/-      Cj.       jUy  dr\  ,    /  f  J_j_ 


7: 


WACOUSTA; 


THE     PROPHECY, 


AN    INDIAN   TALE 


"  Vengeance  is  still  alive  ;  from  her  dark  covert, 
With  all  her  snakes  erect  upon  her  crest, 
She  stalks  in  view,  and  fires  me  with  her  charms." 

The  Revenge. 


BY   MAJOR   RICHARDSON, 

AUTHOR    OF    "  H  ARDSCR  ABBLE,"    '"EC  ARTE,"    &C. 


REVISED  EDITION. 


NEW  YOPJv  : 

DEWITT   &   DAVENPORT,    PUBLISHERS, 

TRIBUNE    Bj^IL  DINGS. 


y 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851,  by 

DEWITT    &    DAVENPORT,  ] 

! 

the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern  , 

District  of  New  York.  'j 

\ 


INTRODUCTION. 


This  Chapter,  written  eighteen  years  svibseqnent  to  the  original  publication: 
of  Wacousta  in  Loudon,  will  be  found  unavoidablj^  replete  with  egotism.  B^ 
none  will  it  be  more  readily  pronounced  such  than  by  those  who  are  most 
open  to  the  charge  themselves.  "Without  its  exercise,  however,  the  object  of* 
this  mtroduction  would  not  be  gained. 

As  the  reader  may  be  curious  to  know  on  what  basis,  and  in  what  manneT 
this  story  (of  which  I  have  certainly  robbed  that  first  of  vigorous  Amerieaw 
Novelists — the  "  Last  of  the  jNIohicans"  Cooper — which  tale,  albeit  I  have  never 
read  a  novel  by  another  author  twice,  I  have  absolutely  devoured  three  timeSj) 
was  suggested  to  me,  and  on  what  particular  portions  of  History  the  story  is 
founded,  I  am  not  aware  that  tliis  introductory  Chapter,  which  I  have  prom 
ised  my  Publishers,  can  be  better  devoted  than  to  the  explanation. 

It  is  well  known  to  every  man  conversant  with  the  earlier  History  of  this 
country  that,  shortly  subsequent  to  the  cession  of  the  Canadas  to  England  by 
France.  Ponteac  the  great  Head  of  the  Indian  race  of  that  period,  had  formed^ 
a  federation  of  the  various  tribes,  threatening  extermination  to  the  British  posts 
established  along  the  Western  Frontier.  These  were  nine  in  number,  and  the- 
following  stratagem  was  resorted  to  by  the  artful  chief  to  effect  their  reduc- 
tion. Investing  one  fort  with  his  warriors,  so  as  to  cut  off  all  communicatioii 
with  the  others,  and  to  leave  no  hope  of  succor,  his  practice  was  to  offer  terms 
of  surrender  which  never  were  kept  in  the  honorable  spirit  in  which  the  far 
more  noble  and  generous  Tecumseh  always  acted  with  his  enemies,  and  thus  in 
turn,  seven  of  these  outposts  fell  victims  to  their  confidence  in  his  truth. 
Detroit  and  Michillimackinac,  or  Mackinaw  as  it  is  now  called,  remained,  and 
all  the  mgenuity  of  the  Chieftain  was  directed  to  the  possession  of  these 
strongholds.  The  following  plan,  well  worthy  of  his  invention,  was  at  lengtis 
determined  upon.  During  a  temporary  truce,  and  while,  Ponteac  was  hold- 
ing forth  proposals  for  an  ultimate  and  durable  jDcace,  a  ball  playing  was  ar- 
ranged by  htm  to  take  place  simultaneously,  on  the  common  or  clearing  on 
which  rested  the  forts  of  ]Michillimackanac  and  Detroit.  The  better  to  accom- 
plish their  object,  the  guns  of  the  warriors  had  been  cut  short  and  given  to  thefe 

iviil6030 


IV  I  N  T  K  U  U  U  C  T  [ON. 

women  wlio  were  insli'ucted  to  conceal  tlieiu  under  their  blankets,  and  durinfr 
the  game,  and  seemingly  without  design,  to  approach  the  drawbridge  of 
the  fort.  This  precaution  taken,  the  players  were  to  approach  and  throvr 
over  tlieir  ball,  permission  to  regain  which  they  presumed  would  nfM^e  de- 
nied. On  apjjroaching  the  drawbridge,  they  were  with  fierce  yells  to  make 
a  general  rush,  and,  securing  the  arms  concealed  by  the  women,  to  massacre 
the  unprepared  garrison.  The  dny  was  fixed — the  game  commenced,  a?id 
was  proceeded  with  in  the  manner  previously  a:^ugcd.  The  ball  v\'as  dex- 
t!.')'ouslj-  hui'led  into  the  fort,  and  permission  asked  to  recover  it.  It  was 
granted.  The  drav.'bridge  was  lowered,  and  tlie  Indians  dashed  forward  for 
the  accomplishment  of  their  woi-li  of  blood.  How  different  the  result  in  the 
two  garrisons  !  At  Deti-oit,  Ponteac  and  his  warriors  had  scarceh'  crossed  the 
drawbridge  when  to  their  astonishment  and  disappointment,  tho}-  beheld  the 
guns  of  the  ramparts  depressed — the  artillerymen  with  lighted  matches  at 
their  posts  and  covering  the  little  garrison,  composed  of  a  few  companies  of 
the  42d  Highlanders,  who  were  also  under  arms,  and  so  distributed  as  to  take 
the  enemy  most  at  an  advantage.  Sullenly  they  withdi'ew,  and  without 
lOther  indication  of  their  purpose  than  what  liad  been  exjjressed  in  their  man- 
ner, and  carried  oft'  the  missing  bah.  Their  design  had  been  discovered  and 
made  known  by  means  of  significant  warnings  to  the  Governor  b}'  an  Indian 
woman  who  owed  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  his  family,  and  was  resol  ved.  at  all 
hazards,  to  save  them.  On  the  same  day  the  same  artifice  v.'as  i-esorted  to  at 
Michillimackinac,  and  wth  the  most  complete  success.  There  was  no  guardian 
angel  there  to  warn  them  of  danger,  and  all  fell  beneath  the  i-iile,  the  toma- 
hawk, the  war-club,  and  the  knife,  one  or  two  of  the  tradeis — a  Mr.  Henry 
among  the  rest — alone  excepted. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  event,  vrhen  tlie  head  of  the  military  authorities 
in  the  Oolonj^,  apprised  of  the  fate  of  these  defeated  posts,  and  made  acquainted 
with  the  perilous  condition  of  Fort  Detroit,  which  was  then  reduced  to  the 
last  extremity,  sought  an  officer  who  Avould  volunteer  the  charge  of  supplies 
from  Albany  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  across  the  lake  to  Detroit,  which,  if  possi- 
ble, he  vi'as  to  relieve.  That  volmiteer  was  promptly  found  in  my  maternal 
grandfather,  Mr.  Erskine,  from  Strabaue,  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  then  an  offi- 
cer in  the  Commissariat  Department.  The  difficulty  of  the  undertaking 
will  be  obvious  to  those  who  understand  the  danger  attending  a  journey 
through  the  Western  wilderness,  beset  as  it  was  by  the  Avarriors  of  Ponteac. 
ever  on  the  look  out  to  prevent  succor  to  the  garrison,  and  yet  the  duty  was 
successfully  accomplished.  He  left  Albany  with  provisions  and  ammunition 
sufficient  to  fill  several  Schenectady  boats — I  think  seven — and  yet  conducted 
his  charge  with  such  prudence  and  foresight,  that  notwithstanding  the  vigi- 
lance of  Ponteac,  he  finally  and  after  long  A\-atching  succeeded,  under  cover  of 
a  dark  and  stormy  night,  in  throwing  into  the  fort  the  supplies  of  which  the 
remnant  of  the  gallant  '•  Black-watch,"  as  the  42d  was  originally  named,  and 
a  company  of  whom,  while  out  reconuoitering,  had  been  massacred  at  a  spot  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  town,  thereafter  called  the  Bloody  Eun,  stood  so  greatly  in 
need.     This  important  service  rendered,  Mr.  Erskine,  in  compliance  with  the 


;  :c T R O  D U C T  lOS  .  7 

iiLStnictions  he  had  received,  veturncd  to  Alliany.  where  he  reported  the  success- 
or the  expedition. 

'I'lic  colonial  authorities  were  not  regardless  of  his  interests.  "When  the 
Ponteac  confederacy  had  been  dissolved,  and  quiet  and  security  restored 
in  that  remote  region,  largo  tracts  of  land  were  granted  to  ^Ir.  Erskine. 
and  other  privileges  accorded  which  eventually  gave  him  the  command  of 
nearly  a  hundred  thousand  dollars — an  enormous  sum  to  have  been  realised 
at  that  early  period  of  the  country.  But  it  was  not  destined  that  he  should, 
i-etain  this.  The  gj-eat  bulk  of  his  capital  was  expended  on  almost  the  first 
'Commercial  shipping  that  ever  sldmmed  the  surface  of  Lr.kcs  Huron  and  Erie. 
.Shortly  prior  to  the  Revolution,  he  was  possessed  of  seven  vessels  of  diifercnt 
tonnage,  and  the  trade  in  v.-luch  he  had  embarked,  and  of  which  he  was  the 
head,  was  rapidly  increasing  his  already  large  fortune,  when  one  of  those  au- 
tumnal hurricanes,  which  even  to  this  day  continue  to  desolate  the  waters  of 
the  treacherous  lake  last  named,  suddenly  arose  and  buried  beneath  its  en- 
gulfing waves  not  less  than  six  of  these  schooners  laden  with  such  riches, 
chiefly  furs,  of  the  West,  as  then  were  most  an  object  of  barter.  Jlr.  Erskine, 
who  had  man-ied  the  daughter  of  one  of  the  earhest  settlers  from  France, 
and  of  a  family  well  known  in  history,  a  lady  who  had  been  in  Detroit  during 
the  siege  of  the  British  garrison  by  Ponteac,  now  abandoned  speculation,  and 
contenting  himself  with  the  remnant  of  his  fortune,  established  himself 
near  the  banks  of  the  river,  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Bloody  Run.  Here 
he  continued  thi-oughout  the  Revolution.  Esuiy,  however,  in  the  present 
century,  he  quitted  Detroit  and  repaired  to  the  Canadian  shore,  where  on  a 
property  nearly  opposite,  which  he  obtained  in  exchange,  and  which  in  honor 
of  his  native  country  he  named  Strabane — known  as  such  to  this  day — he 
passed  the  autumn  of  his  days.  The  last  time  I  beheld  hun,  was  a  day  or 
two  subsequent  to  the  affair  of  the  Thames,  when  General  Harrison  and 
Colonel  Johnson  were  temporary  inmates  of  his  dwelling. 

My  father,  of  a  younger  branch  of  the  Annandale  family,  the  head  of  wliich 
was  attainted  in  the  Scottish  rebellion  of  1745,  was  an  officer  of  Simcoe's 
■4veU-known  Rangers,  in  which  regiment,  and  about  the  same  period,  the 
present  Lord  Hardinge  commenced  his  services  in  this  coimtry.  Being  quar- 
tered at  Fort  Erie,  he  met  and  married  at  the  house  of  one  of  the  earhest 
Canadian  merchants,  a  daughter  of  'Mr.  Erskine,  then  on  a  visit  to  her  sister, 
and  by  her  had  eight  childi-en,  of  whom  I  am  the  oldest  and  only  survivor. 
Having  a  few  years  after  his  marriage  been  ordered  to  St.  Joseph's,  near 
Michillimackinac,  my  father  thought  it  expedient  to  leave  me  with  Mr.  Erskine 
at  Detroit,  where  I  received  the  fii'st  rudiments  of  my  education.  But  here 
I  did  not  remain  long,  for  it  was  dirring  the  period  of  the  stay  of  the  detach- 
ment of  Simcoe's  Rangers  at  St.  Joseph  that  Mr.  Erskine  repaired  with  his 
family  to  the  Canadian  shore,  where  on  the  more  elevated  and  conspicuous 
part  of  his  grounds  wliich  are  situated  nearly  opposite  the  foot  of  Hog 
Island,  so  repeatedly  alluded  to  in  Wacousta,  he  had  caused  a  flag-staff  to  be 
erected,  from  which  each  Sabbath  day  proudly  floated  the  colors  imder  which 
he  had  served  and  never  could  bring  himself  to  disown.    It  was  at  Strabane 


VI  ■  INTRODUCTION. 

that  the  old  hidy.  with  whom  I  was  a  great  favorite,  used  to  enchain  my 
young  iuterest  by  detailing  various  facts  connected  with  the  siege  she  so  well 
remembered,  and  infused  into  me  a  longing  to  grow  up  to  manhood  that  I 
might  write  a  book  about  it.  The  details  of  the  Ponteac  plan  for  the  capture 
of  the  two  forts  were  what  she  most  enlarged  upon,  and  although  a  long  lapse 
of  years  of  absence  from  the  scene,  and  ten  thousand  incidents  of  a  higher  and 
more  immediate  importance  might  have  been  supposed  to  weaken  the  recol- 
lections of  so  early  a  period  of  life,  the  impression  has  ever  vividh^  remained. 
Hence  the  first  appearance  of  "VYacousta  in  London  in  1832,  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century  later.  The  story  is  founded  solely  on  the  artifice  of 
Ponteac  to  possess  himself  of  these  two  last  British  forts.  All  else  is  ima- 
ginary. 

It  is  not  a  little  curious  that  I,  only  a  few  years  subsequent  to  the  narration 
by  old  Mrs.  Erskine  of  the  daring  and  cunning  feats  of  Ponteac,  and  his  vain 
attempt  to  secure  the  fort  of  Detroit,  should  myself  have  entered  it  in  arms. 
But  it  was  so.  I  had  ever  hated  school  with  a  most  bitter  hatred,  and  I 
gladly  availed  myself  of  an  ofier  from  General  Brock  to  obtain  for  me  a  com- 
mission in  the  king's  service.  Meanwhile  I  did  duty  as  a  cadet  with  the  gal- 
lant 41st  regiment,  to  whom  the  English  edition  of  Wacousta  was  inscribed, 
and  was  one  of  the  guard  of  honor  who  took  possession  of  the  fort.  The 
duty  of  a  sentinel  over  the  British  colors,  which  had  just  been  hoisted,  was 
assigned  to  me,  and  I  certainly  felt  not  a  little  proud  of  the  distinction. 

Five  times,  Avithin  half  a  cAtury.  had  the  flag  of  that  fortress  been  changed. 
First  the  lily  of  France,  then  the  red  cross  of  England,  and  next  the  stripes  and 
stars  of  America  had  floated  over  its  ramparts  ;  and  then  again  the  red  cross, 
and  lastly  the  stars.  On  my  return  to  this  country  a  few  years  since,  I  visited 
those  scenes  of  stirring  excitement  in  which  my  boyhood  had  been  passed, 
but  I  looked  in  vain  for  the  ancient  fortifications  which  had  given  a  classical 
interest  to  that  region.  The  unsparing  hand  of  utilitarianism  had  passed 
over  them,  destroying  almost  eveiy  vestige  of  the  past.  Where  had  risen  the 
only  fortress  in  America  at  all  worthy  to  give  antiquity  to  the  scene,  streets 
had  been  laid  out  and  made,  and  houses  had  been  built,  leaving  not  a  trace 
of  its  existence,  save  the  well  that  formerly  supplied  the  closelj^  besieged  gar- 
rison with  water  ;  and  this,  half  imbedded  in  the  herbage  of  an  enclosure  of  a 
dwelling  house  of  mean  appearance,  was  rather  to  be  guessed  at  than  seen ; 
while  at  the  opposite  extremity  of  the  citj"-,  where  had  been  conspicuous  for 
years  the  Bloody  Run,  cultivation  and  improvement  had  nearly  obliterated 
every  trace  of  the  past. 

Two  objections  have  been  urged  against  Wacousta  as  a  consistent  tale — the 
one  as  involving  an  improbabilitj-,  the  other  a  geograpliical  error.  It  has  been 
assumed  that  the  startling  feat  accomplished  by  that  man  of  deep  revenge, 
who  is  not  alone  in  his  bitter  hatred  and  contempt  for  the  base  am.ong  those 
who,  Uke  spaniels,  crawl  and  kiss  the  dust  at  the  instigation  of  their  su- 
periors, and  yet  arrogate  to  themselves  a  claim  to  be  considered  gentlemen 
and  men  of  honor  and  independence — it  has.  I  repeat,  been  assumed  that  the 
feat  attributed  to  him,  in  connexion  with  the  flag-staif  of  the  fort,  was  im- 


INTRODUCTION.  VU 

possible.  No  one  who  has  ever  seen  these  erections  on  the  small  forts  of  that 
day,  would  pronounce  tlie  same  criticism.  Never  very  lofty,  they  were 
ascended  at  least  one-third  of  their  height  by  means  of  small  projections  nailed 
to  them,  for  footholds  for  the  artillerymen,  frequently  compelled  to  clear  the 
flag  lines  entangled  at  the  truck ;  therefore  a  strong  and  active  man,  such  as 
Wacousta  is  described  to  have  been,  might  very  well  have  been  supposed,  in 
his  strong  anxiety  for  revenge  and  escape  with  his  victim,  to  have  doubled 
his  strength  and  axjtivity  on  so  important  an  occasion,  rendering  that  easy  of 
attainment  by  liimself,  which  an  ordinary  and  unexcited  man  might  deem 
impossible.  I  myself  have  knocked  down  a  gate  almost  without  feeling  the 
resistance,  in  order  to  escape  the  stilettoes  of  assassins. 

The  second  objection  is  to  the  narrowness  attributed,  in  the  talc,  to  the  river 
St.  Clair.  This  was  done  in  the  license  usually  accorded  to  a  writer  of  fiction, 
in  order  to  give  greater  effect  to  the  scene  represented  as  having  occurred  there, 
and  of  course  in  no  way  intended  as  a  geographical  description  of  the  river, 
nor  was  it  necessary.  In  the  same  spirit  and  for  the  same  purpose,  it  has 
been  continued. 

It  will  be  seen  that  at  the  termination  of  the  tragedy  enacted  at  the  bridge, 
by  whicli  the  Bloody  Run  was  in  those  days  crossed,  that  the  wretched  wife 
of  the  condemned  soldier  pronounced  a  curse  that  could  not  of  coiu-se  well  be 
fulfilled  in  the  course  of  the  tale.  Some  few  years  ago  I  published  in  Can- 
ada— I  might  as  well  have  done  so  in  Kamtschatka — the  continuation,  which 
was  to  have  been  dedicated  to  the  last  lung  of  England,  but  which,  after  the 
death  of  that  monarch,  was  inscribed  to  Sir  -John  Harvey,  whose  letter,  as 
making  honorable  mention  of  a  gallant  and  beloved  brother,  I  feel  it  a  duty 
to  the  memory  of  the  latter  to  subjoin.* 

The  Prophecy  Fulfilled,  which,  however,  has  never  been  seen  out  of  the 
small  country  in  which  it  appeared,  Detroit  perhaps  alone  excepted,  embraces 
and  indeed  is  intimately  connected  with  the  Beauchamp  tragedy,  which  took 

*  "  Government  House,  Fredehicton,  N.  B.,  November  26th,  1839. 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  am  favored  with  your  very  interesting  communieation  of  the  2(1  in- 
stant, by  which  I  leam  that  you  are  the  brother  of  two  youths,  whose  gallantry  and 
merit? — and  with  regard  to  one  of  them,  his  sufferings — during  the  late  war,  excited  my 
warmest  admiration  and  sympathy ;  I  beg  you  to  believe  that  I  am  far  from  insensible  to 
the  affecting  proofs  which  you  have  made  known  to  me  of  this  grateful  recollection  of  any 
little  service  which  I  may  have  had  it  in  my  power  to  render  them ;  and  I  will  add  that 
the  desire  which  I  felt  to  serve  the  father,  will  be  found  to  extend  itself  to  the  son,  if  your 
nephew  should  ever  find  himself  under  circumstances  to  require  from  me  any  service  which 
it  may  be  within  my  power  to  render  him. 

"With  regard  to  your  very  flattering  proposition  to  inscribe  your  present  work  to  me. 
I  can  only  say  that,  independent  of  the  respect  to  which  the  author  of  so  very  charming  a 
production  as  "  Wacousta"  is  entitled,  the  interesting  facts  and  circumstances  so  unexpect- 
edly brought  to  my  knowledge  and  recollection,  would  ensure  a  ready  acquiescence  on  my 
part. 

"  I  remain,  dear  Sir,  your  very  faithful  servant, 

(Signed)  "J.  Harvey. 

"  Major  riicHAEDsoN,  Montreal." 


Viii  INTRODUCTION. 

place  at  or  near  Weisiger's  Hotel,  in  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  where  I  had  been 
many  years  before  confined  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  While  connecting  it  with 
the  Prophecy  Fulfilled,  and  making  it  subservient  to  the  end  I  had  in 
view,  I  had  not  read,  or  even  heard  of  the  existence  of  a  work  of  the  same 
character,  which  had  already  appeared  from  the  pen  of  an  American  author. 
Indeed,  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  "Prophecy  Fulfilled,"  although  not 
published  until  after  a  lapse  of  years,  was  the  first  written.  No  similarity 
of  treatment  of  the  subject  exists  between  the  two  versions,  and  this,  be  it 
remembered,  I  remark  without  in  the  slightest  degree  impugning  the  merit  of 
the  production  of  my  fellow  laborer  in  the  same  field. 

The  Authoe. 

New  York  City, 
Januaiy  1st,  1851. 


WACOUSTA;   OR,  THE  PROPHECY. 


CHAPTER  T. 

It  was  during  the  raidnioht  watch,  late  in  September,  1763,  that  the 
English  garrison  of  Detroit  was  thrown  into  the  utmost  consternation  by 
the  sudden  and  mysterious  introduction  of  a  stranger  within  its  walls.  The 
circumstance  at  this  moment  was  particularly  remarkable ;  for  the  period 
was  so  fearful  and  pregnant  with  events  of  danger,  the  fort  being  assailed 
on  every  side  by  a  powerful  and  vindictive  foe,  that  a  caution  and  vigilance 
of  no  common  kind  were  unceasingly  exercised  by  the  prudent  governor  for 
the  safety  of  those  committed  to  his  charge.  A  long  series  of  hostilities  had 
been  pvu-sued  by  the  North  American  Indians  against  the  subjects  of  Eng- 
land, within  the  few  years  that  had  succeeded  to  the  final  subjection  of  the 
Canadas  to  her  victorious  arms :  and  many  and  sanguinary  were  the  con- 
flicts in  which  the  devoted  soldiery  were  made  to  succumb  to  the  cunning 
and  numbers  of  their  savage  enemies.  In  those  lone  regions,  both  officers  and 
men,  in  then-  respective  ranks,  were,  by  a  communionship  of  suffering,  isolation, 
and  peculiarity  of  duty,  drawn  towards  each  other  with  feelings  of  almost 
fraternal  affection  :  and  the  fates  of  those  who  fell  were  lamented  with  sin- 
cerit}^  of  soul,  and  avenged,  when  opportunity  oifered,  with  a  determination 
prompted  equally  by  indignation  and  despair.  This  sentiment  of  union,  ex- 
isting even  between  men  and  officers  of  different  corps,  was,  Avith  occasional 
exceptions,  of  course  doubly  strengthened  among  those  who  fought  under 
the  same  colors,  and  acknowledged  the  same  head ;  and,  as  it  often  hap- 
pened in  Canada,  during  this  interesting  period,  tliat  a  single  regiment  was 
distributed  into  two  or  three  fortresses,  each  so  far  removed  from  the  other 
that  communication  could  v>"ith  the  utmost  facility,  be  cut  off,  the  anxiety  and 
uncertainty  of  these  detachments  became  proportioned  to  the  danger  with 
which  they"  knew  themselves  to  be  more  immediately  beset.  The  garrison 
of  Detroit,  at  the  date  above  named,  consisted  of  a  third  of  the regi- 
ment, the  remainder  of  which  occupied  the  forts  of  Michillimackinac  and 
Niagara,  and  to  each  division  of  this  regiment  was  attached  an  officer's  com- 
mand oif  artillery.  It  is  true  that  no  immediate  overt  act  of  hostility  had 
for  some  time  been  perpetrated  by  the  Indians,  who  were  assembled  in  force 
around  the  former  garrison ;  but  the  experienced  officer  to  whom  the  com- 
mand had  been  intrusted  was  too  sensible  of  the  craftiness  of  the  smTOund- 
ing  hordes  to  be  deceived,  by  any  outward  semblance  of  amity,  into  neglect 
of  those  measures  of  precaution  which  were  so  indispensable  to  the  security 
of  his  trust. 

In  tliis  he  pursued  a  line  of  pohcy  happily  adapted  to  the  delicate  nature 
of  his  position.  Unwilling  to  excite  the  anger  or  wound  the  pride  of  the 
chiefs,  by  any  outward  manifestation  of  distrust,  he  affected  to  confide  in 
the  sincerity  of  their  professions,  and,  by  inducing  his  officers  to  mix  occa- 
sionally in  their  councils,  and  his  men  in  the  amusements  of  the  inferior 
warriors,  contrived  to  impress  the  conviction  that  he  reposed  altogether  on 
their  faith.  But,  although  these  acts  were  in  some  degree  coerced  by  the 
necessity  of  the  times,  and  a  perfect  knowledge  of  all  the  misery  that  must 
accrue  to  them  in  the  event  of  their  provoking  the  Indians  into  acts  of  open 
hostility,  the  prudent  governor  took  such  precautions  as  were  deemed  efficient 
to  defeat  any  treacherous  attempt  at  violation  of  the  tacit  treaty  on  the  part 


1 0  •  '  ;v  A  c  0  u  s  r  A  ;    on,    the    prophecy. 

of  tlie  3iatives.  The  ofBccrs  never  ventured  out.  unless  escorted  by  a  portion 
of  their  men,  who,  although  appearing  to  be  dispersed  among  the  warriors, 
still  kept  sufficiently  together  to  be  enabled,  in  a  moment  of  omergency,  to  af- 
ford succor,  not  only  to  each  other,  but  to  their  .superiors.  On  these  occa- 
sions, as  a  further  security  against  surprise,  the  troops  left  within  were  in- 
structed to  be  in  readiness,  at  a  moment's  warning,  to  render  assistance,  if 
necessary,  to  their  companions,  who  seldom,  on  any  occasion,  ventured  out 
of  reach  of  the  cannon  of  the  fort,  the  gate  of  wliich  was  hermetically 
closed,  while  numerous  supernumerary  sentinels  were  posted  along  the 
ramparts,  with  a  view  to  give  the  alarm  if  anytliing  extraordinary  was  ob- 
served to  occur  without. 

Painful  and  haiassing  as  were  the  precautions  it  was  found  necessary  to 
adopt  on  these  occasions,  and  little  desirous  as  were  the  garrison  to  mingle 
with  the  natives  on  such  terms,  still  the  plan  was  pursued  by  the  governor 
from  tlie  policy  already  named :  nay,  it  was  absolutely  essential  to  the  future 
interests  of  England  that  the  Indians  should  be  won  over  by  acts  of  confidence 
and  kindness  ;  and  so  little  disposition  had  hitherto  been  manifested  by  the 
Englisli  to  conciliate,  that  every  thing  was  to  be  apprehended  from  the  un- 
tameable  rancor  with  which  these  people  were  but  too  well  disposed  to  repay 
a  neglect  at  once  galling  to  their  pride  and  injurious  to  their  interests. 

Such,  for  a  term  of  many  months,  had  been  the  trying  and  painful  duty 
that  had  devolved  on  the  governor  of  Detroit ;  when,  in  the  summer  of  1763, 
the  whole  of  the  western  tribes  of  Indians,  as  if  actuated  by  one  common  im- 
pulse, suddenly  threw  off  the  mask,  and  commenced  a  series  of  the  most 
savage  trespasses  upon  the  English  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  the  several  gar- 
risons, who  were  cut  off  in  detail,  without  mercy,  and  without  reference  to 
either  age  or  sex.  On  the  first  alarm  the  weak  bodies  of  troops,  as  a  last 
measure  of  security,  shut  themselves  up  in  their  respective  forts,  where  they 
were  as  incapable  of  rendering  assistance  to  others  as  of  receiving  it  them- 
selves. In  this  emergency  the  prudence  and  forethought  of  the  governor  of 
Detroit  were  eminently  conspicuous  ;  for,  having  long  foreseen  the  possibility 
of  such  a  crisis,  he  had  caused  a  plentiful  supply  of  all  that  was  necessary  to 
the  subsistence  and  defence  of  the  garrison  to  be  provided  at  an  earlier  period, 
.so  that,  if  foiled  in  their  attempts  at  stratagem,  there  was  little  chance  that 
the  Indians  would  speedily  reduce  them  by  fiimine.  To  guard  against  the 
former,  a  vigilant  watch  was  constantly  kept  by  the  garrison  both  day  and 
night,  while  the  sentinels,  doubled  in  number,  were  constantlj-  on  the  alert. 
Strict  attention,  moreover,  was  paid  to  such  parts  of  the  ramparts  as  were 
considered  most  assailable  by  a  cunning  and  midnight  enemy  ;  and,  in  order 
to  prevent  any  imprudence  on  the  part  of  the  garrison,  all  egress  or  ingress 
was  piohibited  that  had  not  the  immediate  sanction  of  the  chief  With  this 
view  the  keys  of  the  gate  v»'ere  given  in  trust  to  the  officer  of  the  guard ;  to 
whom,  however,  it  was  interdicted  to  use  them  unless  by  dii-ect  and  positive 
order  of  the  governor.  In  addition  to  this  precaution,  the  sentinels  on  duty 
at  the  gate  had  strict  private  instructions  not  to  suffer  auy  one  to  pass  either 
in  or  out  unless  conducted  by  the  gov(;ruor  in  person :  and  this  restriction 
extended  even  to  the  officer  of  the  guard. 

Such  being  the  cautious  discipline  established  in  the  fort,  the  appearance  of 
a  stranger  within  the  walls  at  the  sfUl  hour  of  midnight  could  not  fail  to  be 
regarded  as  an  extraordinary  event,  and  to  excite  an  apprehension  which  could 
scarcely  have  been  siu-passed  had  a  numerous  and  armed  band  of  savages  sud- 
denh-  appeared  among  them.  The  first  intimation  of  this  fact  was  gi^•cn  by 
the  violent  ringing  of  an  alarm  bell ;  a  rope  communicating  with  which  was 
suspended  in  tlie  governor's  apartments,  for  the  purpose  of  arousing  tlie  slum- 
bering soldiers  in  any  case  of  pressing  emergency.  Soon  after\vards  the 
governor  liimsell"  was  seen  to  issue  from  his  I'ooms  in  the  open  area  of  the 
parade,  clad  in  his  dressing-gown,  and  bearing  a  lamp  in  one  hand  and  a  na- 
ked sword  in  the  other.    His  countenance  was  pale,  and  his  features,  violently 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.       11 

agitated,  betrayed  a  source  of  alarm  which  those  who  were  familiar  witli  his 
usual  haughtiness  of  manner  were  ill  able  to  comprehend. 

•'Which  way  did  he  go? — why  .<;tand  ye  here? — follow — pursue  him 
quickly — let  him  not  escape,  on  your  lives  !"  The.se  sentences,  hurriedly  and 
impatiently  uttered,  were  addressed  to  the  two  sentinels  Avho.  stationed  in 
front  of  his  apartments,  had,  on  the  first  .sound  of  alarm  from  the  )X>rtentous 
bell,  lowered  their  maskets  to  the  charge,  and  now  stood  immovable  in  that 
position. 

"Who  does  your  honor  mane?"  replied  one  of  the  men,  startled,  yet 
bringing  his  arms  to  the  "  Recover,"  in  salutation  of  his  chief. 

"  Why,  the  man — the  stranger — the  fellow  who  has  just  passed  you." 

"  Not  a  living  soul  has  passed  us  since  our  watch  commenced,  your  honor," 
observed  the  second  sentinel ;  "  and  we  have  now  been  here  upwards  of  an 
hour." 

"Impossible,  sirs:  ye  have  been  asleep  on  your  posts,  or  ye  must  have 
seen  him.  He  passed  this  way,  and  could  not  have  escaped  yom'  observation 
had  ye  been  attentive  to  your  duty." 

"  Well,  sure,  and  your  honor  knows  bist,"  rejoined  the  first  sentinel  ;  "  but 
so  hilp  me  St.  Patrick,  as  I  have  siiwed  man  and  boy  in  your  honor's  rigi- 
ment  this  twelve  years,  not  even  the  fitch  of  a  man  has  passed  me  this 
blissed  night.  And  here's  my  comrade.  Jack  Halford,  who  will  take  his 
Bible  oath  to  the  same,  with  all  due  difirince  to  your  honor."  The  pithy 
reply  to  this  eloquent  attempt  at  exculpation  was  a  brief  "Silence,  sirrah, 
walk  about !" 

Tlie  men  brought  their  muskets  once  more,  and  in  silence,  to  the  shoulder, 
and  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  their  chief,  resumed  their  limited  walk ; 
crossing  each  other  at  regular  intervals  in  the  course  that  enfiladed,  as  it  were, 
the  only  entrance  to  the  governor's  apartments. 

Meanwhile  everything  was  bustle  and  commotion  among  the  garrison, 
who,  roused  from  sleep  by  the  appalling  sound  of  the  alarm  bell  at  that  late 
hour,' were  hastily  arming.  Throughout  the  obscuritj^  might  be  seen  the 
flitting  forms  of  men,  whose  already  fully  accoutred  persons  proclaimed  them 
to  be  of  the  guard  ;  while  in  the  lofty  barracks,  numerous  lights  flashing  to 
and  fro.  and  moving  with  rapidit3\  attested  the  alacrity  with  which  the  troops 
otf  duty  were  eqviipping  for  some  service  of  more  than  ordinary  interest.  So 
noiseless,  too,  was  this  preparation,  as  far  as  speech  was  concerned,  that  the 
occasional  opening  and  shutting  of  pans,  and  ringing  of  ramrods  to  ascertain 
the  eiliciency  of  the  muskets,  might  be  heard  distinctly  in  the  stillness  of  the 
night  at  a  distance  of  many  fiu-longs. 

He.  however,  who  had  touched  the  secret  spring  of  all  this  picturesque 
movement,  whatever  might  be  his  gratification  and  approval  of  the  prompti- 
tude with  which  the  summons  to  arms  had  been  answered  by  his  brave  troops, 
was  far  from  being  wholly  satisfied  with  the  scene  he  had  conjured  up.  Re- 
covered from  the  first  and  irrepressible  agitation  which  had  driven  him  to 
sound  the  tocsin  of  alarm,  he  felt  how  derogatory  to  his  military  dignity  and 
proverbial  coolness  of  character  it  might  be  considered,  to  have  awakened  a- 
whole  garrison  firom  their  slumbers,  when  a  few  files  of  the  guard  would 
have  answered  his  purpose  equally  well.  Besides,  so  much  time  had  lieen 
suffered  to  elapse,  that  the  stranger  might  have  escaped  ;  and  if  so.  how  many 
might  be  disposed  to  ridicule  his  alarm,  and  consider  it  as  emanating  from  an 
imagination  disturbed  by  sleep,  rather  than  caused  by  the  actual  presence  of 
one  endowed  like  themselves  with  the  faculties  of  speech  and  motion.  For  a 
moment  he  hesitated  whether  he  should  not  countermand  the  summons  to 
arms  which  had  been  so  precipitately  given ;  but  when  he  recollected  the 
harrowing  threat  that  had  been  breathed  in  his  ear  by  his  midnight  visiter, — 
when  he  reflected,  moreover,  that  even  now  it  was  probacble  he  was  lurking; 
within  the  precincts  of  the  fort  with  a  view  to  the  destruction  of  all  that  it 
contained. — when,  in  short,  he  thought  of  the  imminent  danger  that  must 


12  W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      O  II  ,     THE      P  R  O  V  H  K  C  Y  . 

attend  them  should  he  be  suffered  to  escape, — he  felt  the  necessity  of  precau- 
tion, and  determined  on  his  measures,  even  at  the  risk  of  manifesting  a  pru- 
dence which  might  be  construed  unfavorably.  On  re-entering  his  apartments, 
he  found  his  orderly,  who,  roused  by  the  midnight  tumult,  stood  waiting  to 
receive  the  commands  of  his  chief. 

"  Desire  Major  Blackwater  to  come  to  me  immediately."  The  mandate  was 
quickly  obeyed.  In  a  few  seconds  a  short,  tliick-set  and  elderly  officer  made 
his  appearance  in  a  gray  mihtary  undress  frock. 

"Blackwater,  we  have  traitors  within  the  fort.  Let  diligent  search  be 
made  in  every  part  of  the  barracks  for  a  stranger,  an  enemy,  who  has  man- 
aged to  procure  admittance  among  us:  let  every  nook  and  cranny,  every 
empty  cask,  be  examined  forthwith  ;  and  cause  a  number  of  additional  senti- 
nels to  be  stationed  along  the  ramparts,  in  order  to  intercept  his  escape." 

"  Good  heaven,  is  it  possible  V  said  the  major,  wiping  the  perspu-atio-.i  from 
his  brows,  though  the  night  was  unusually  chUlj'  for  the  season  of  the  year : — 
"  how  could  he  contrive  to  enter  a  place  so  vigilantly  guarded  ?" 

"  Ask  me  not  hmo,  Blackwater,"  returned  the  governor,  seriously  ;  ''let  it 
suffice  that  he  has  been  in  this  very  r«om,  and  that  ten  minutes  since  he  stood 
where  you  now  stand." 

The  major  looked  aghast. — "  God  bless  me,  how  singular  !  How  could  the 
savage  contrive  to  obtain  admission  ?  or  was  he  in  reality  an  Indian  V  "  No 
more  questions,  Major  Blackwater.  Hasten  to  distribute  the  men,  and  let 
dihgent  search  be  made  everywhere ;  and  recollect,  neither  officer  nor  man 
courts  his  pillow  until  dawn." 

The  "  major"  emphatically  prefixed  to  his  name  was  a  sufficient  hint  to  the 
.stout  officer  that  the  doubts  thus  familiarly  expressed  were  here  to  cease,  and 
that  he  was  now  addressed  in  the  language  of  authority  by  his  superior,  who 
expected  a  direct  and  prompt  compliance  with  his  orders.  He  therefore 
slightly  touched  his  hat  in  salutation,  and  withdrew  to  make  the  dispositions 
that  had  been  enjoined  by  Iiis  colonel. 

On  regaining  the  parade,  he  caused  the  men,  already  forming  into  compa- 
nies, and  answering  to  the  roll-call  of  then-  respective  non-commissioned 
officers,  to  be  wheeled  into  square,  and  then  in  a  low  but  distinct  voice  stated 
the  cause  of  alarm ;  and,  having  communicated  the  orders  of  the  governor, 
finished  by  recommending  to  each  the  exercise  of  the  most  scrutinising  vigi- 
lance ;  as  on  the  discovery  of  the  individual  in  question,  and  the  means  by 
which  he  had  contrived  to  procure  admission,  the  safety  of  the  whole  garrison, 
it  was  evident,  must  depend. 

The  soldiers  now  dispersed  in  small  parties  throughout  tKe  interior  of  the 
fort,  while  a  select  body  were  conducted  to  the  ramparts  by  the  officers  them- 
selves, and  distributed  between  the  sentinels  already  posted  there,  in  such 
numbers,  and  at  such  distances,  that  it  appeared  impossible  any  thing  wearing 
the  human  form  could  pass  them  unperceived,  even  in  the  obscurity  that 
reigned  around. 

When  this  duty  was  accomplished,  the  officers  proceeded  to  the  posts  of 
the  several  sentinels  who  had  Ijeen  planted  since  the  last  relief,  to  ascertain 
if  any  or  either  of  them  had  observed  aught  to  justify  the  belief  that  an  ene- 
my had  succeeded  in  scaling  the  works.  To.  ail  their  inquiries,  hovv-ever,  they 
received  a  negative  reply,  accompanied  by  a  declaration,  more  or  less  positive 
with  each,  that  .such  had  been  their  vigUancc  during  the  watch,  had  an}-  per- 
son come  within  their  beat,  detection  must  have  been  inevitable.  The  first 
question  was  put  to  the  sentinel  stationed  at  the  gate  of  the  fort,  at  which 
point  the  whole  of  the  officers  of  the  garrison  were,  vrith  one  or  t\^-o  excep- 
tions, now  assembled.  The  man  at  first  evinced  a  good  deal  of,  confusion  ; 
but  this  might  arise  from  the  singidar  fact  of  the  alarm  that  had  been  given, 
and  the  equally  singjalar  circumstance  of  his  being  thus  closely  interrogated 
by  the  collective  body  of  his  officers :  he,  hov/ever,  persisted  in  declaring  that 
he  had  been  in  no  wise  inattentive  to  his  dut}'^,  and  that  no  cause  for  alarm  or 


\\'  A  c  0  i;  s  T  A  ;    OK,    T  n  i:    p  ii  o  i'  a  k  c  v  .  13 

suspiiion  had  occurred  near  hi.s  post.  The  officers  then,  in  order  to  save  time, 
separated  into  two  parties,  pui'suinp;  opposite  circuits,  and  arian^inp;  to  meet 
at  tiiat  point  of  tlie  ra'niparts  wliicli  ^vas  immediately  in  llu-  icar,  and  over- 
lookini;-  the  centre  of  the  semicircuhu- sweep  of  wild  iorest  wiiich  circumvented 
the  fort. 

'•  Well,  ]]Iossingtou,  1  know  not  what  jou  think  of  thi.s  sort  of  work,"  ob- 

ser\-cd  Sir  ihcrard  Valletort,  a  young  lieutenant  of  the regiment,  re-. 

ceutl}^  arrived  from  England,  and  of  the  party  wlio  now  traversed  the  ram- 
part to  the  right ;  '"  but  confound  me  if  I  ^vould  not  ratlier  be  a  barber's 
;ipprcntice  in  London,  upon  nothing,  and  find  mj-self,  than  continue  a  life  of 
this  kind  much  longei'.  It  positively  quite  knocks  me  up  ;  for  what  vi-itk 
early  risings,  and  watchings — I  hud  almost  added  prayings — I  am  but  the 
shadow  of  my  former  self." 

"Hist,  A^alletcu't,' hist !  speak  lower,"  said  Captain  Blessington,  the  senior 
ofhcer  present,  ■'•  or  our  search  must  be  in  vain.  Poor  fellow  !"  he  pursued, 
laughing  low  and  good  humoredly  at  the  picture  of  miseries  thus  solemnly 
enimiorated  by  his  subaltern ; — '•  how  much,  in  truth,  are  you  to  be  pitied, 
who  have  so  i-ecently  basked  in  all  the  sunshine  of  enjoyment  at  home.  For 
cm"  parts.  Ave  have  lived  so  long  amid  these  savage  scenes,  that  we  have  al- 
most forgotten  what  luxury,  or  even  comfort,  means.  Doubt  not,  my  friend, 
that  in  time  you  will,  like  us,  be  reconciled  to  the  change." 

•'  Confound  me  for  an  idiot,  then,  if  I  give  myself  time,"  replied  Sir  Everard, 
allectcdly.  '•  It  was  only  five  minutes  bcfoie  that  cm-sed  alarm  bell  was 
sounded  in  my  ears,  that  I  had  made  up  my  mind  fully  to  resign  or  exchange 
the  instant  I  could  do  so  with  credit  to  myself ;  and,  I  am  sure,  to  be  called  out 
of  a  Avarm  bed  at  this  imseasonable  hour  offers  little  inducement  for  me  to 
change  ii\y  opinion." 

'•Resign  or  exchange  with  credit  to  yourself!"  sullenly  observed  a  stout 
tall  officer  of  about  fifty,  whose  spleen  might  Avell  be  accounted  for  in  his 
rank  of  "  Ensign"  Delme.  '•  Metliinks  there  can  be  little  credit  in  exchang- 
ing or  resigning,  Avhen  one's  companions  are  left  behind,  and  in  a  post  of 
danger." 

'•  By  Jasus.  and  \  c  may  say^  that  with  yoiu-  own  pritty  mouth,"  remarked 
another  veteran,  Avho  answered  to  the  name  of  Lieutenant  Murphy;  '"  for  it 
isn't  now,  while  Ave  are  surromided  and  bediviled  by  the  savages,  that  any  man 
of  the regiment  should  be  after  talking  of  bating  a  retrate." 

"  I  scarcely  understand  you,  gentlemen,"  Avarmly  and  quicklj-  retorted  Sir 
Everard,  Avho,  vrith  all  his  dand3'ism  and  cfteminacy  of  manner,  was  of  a  high 
and  resolute  spirit.  '"  Uo  either  of  you  fancy  that  I  Avant  courage  to  face  & 
positive  danger,  because  I  may  not  happen  to  have  any  particular  vulgar  pre- 
dilection for  early  rising  ?" 

"Nonsejisc,  Valletort,  nonsense,"  interrupted,  in  accents  of  almost  feminine 
sweetness,  his  friend  Lieutenant  Charles  de  Haldimar,  the  j-oungest  son 
of  the  gOA-ernor:  '•  jiurphy  is  an  eternal  echo  of  the  opinions  of  those  who 
look  forAvard  to  promotion  ;  and  as  for  Delme — do  you  not  see  the  drift  of  his 
observation  ?  Shordd  you  retire,  as  you  haA'e  threatened,  of  course  another 
lieutenant  Avill.be  appointed  in  your  stead ;  but,  should  you  chance  to  lose 
your  seal])  dunng  the  struggle  Avith  the  savages,  the  step  goes  in  the  regiment, 
and  he,  l)eiiig  the  senior  ensign,  obtains  promotion  in  consequence." 

"  Ah  !"  obsei-vcd  Captain  Blessington,  "  this  is  indeed  the  greatest  curse 
attached  to  the  profession  of  a  soldier.  FiA'en  among  those  Avho  most  esteem, 
and  are  draAvn  towards  each  other  as  well  by  fellowship  in  pleasure  as  com- 
panionship in  daniicr,  this  vile  and  debasing  principle — this  insatiable  desirt; 
for  personal  advancement — is  ceitain  to  intrude  itself;  since  Ave  feel  that  OA'cr 
the  mangled  bodies  of  our  dearest  friends  and  companions,  Ave  can  alone  hope 
to  attain  preferment  and  distinction. 

This  conver.sation.  interi-uptcd  oidy  by  occasional  (]^uestioning  of  the  sen- 
tinels Avh.om  they  p.issed  in  their  circuit',  was  carried  on  in  an  audible  whisper. 


14       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecv. 

■which  the  close  approximation  of  the  parties  to  each  other,  and  the  profound 
stillness  of  the  night,  enabled  them  to  hear  with  distinctness. 

When  the  conversation  dropped,  the  party  pursued"  their  course  in  silence. 
They  had  just  passed  the  last  sentinel  posted  in  their  line  of  circuit,  and  were 
within  a  few  y&rds  of  the  immediate  rear  of  the  fortress,  when  a  sharp 
"  Hist !"  and  sudden  halt  of  their  leader,  Captain  Blessingtou,  threw  them 
all  into  an  attitude  of  the  most  profound  attention. 

"  Did  you  hear  1"  he  asked  in  a  subdued  whisper,  after  a  few  seconds  of 
silence,  in  which  he  had  vainly  sought  to  catch  a  repetition  of  tlie  sound. 

"  Assuredly,"  he  pursued,  finding  that  no  one  answered, ''  I  distinctly  heard 
a  human  groan."  "  Where  ? — in  what  direction  ?"  asked  Su-  Everard  and 
De  Haldimar  in  the  same  breath. 

"  Immediately  opposite  to  us  on  the  common.  But  see,  here  are  the  re- 
mainder of  the  party  stationarj^,  and  listening  also." 

They  now  stole  gentlj-  forward  a  few  paces,  and  were  sooii  at  the  side  of 
their  companions,  all  of  whom  were  straining  their  necks  and  bending  their 
heads  in  the  attitude  cf  men  listening  attentively." 

"  Have  you  heard  anything,  Erskine  1  asked  Captain  Blessington  in  the 
same  low  whisper,  and  addressing  the  officer  who  led  the  opposite  party. 

"  Not  a  sound  ourselves,  but  here  is  Sir  Everard's  black  servant.  Sambo, 
who  has  just  riveted  our  attention,  by  declaring  he  distinctly  heard  a  groan 
towards  the  skirt  of  the  common."  •■  He  is  right,"  hastily  rejoined  Blessing- 
ton  ;  "  I  heard  it  also." 

Again  a  death-like  silence  ensued,  during  which  the  eyes  of  the  party  were 
.strained  eagerlj^  in  the  direction  of  the  common.  The  night  was  clear  and 
starry,  yet  the  dark  shadow  of  the  broad  belt  of  forest  threw  all  that  part 
of  the  waste  which  came  within  its  immediate  range  into  impenetrable  ob- 
scurity. 

"  Do  you  see  anything  ?"  whispered  Valletort  to  his  friend,  who  stood  next 
him  :  '"  look — look  !"  and  he  pointed  with  his  finger.  "  Nothing."  returned 
De  Haldimar,  after  an  anxious  gaze  of  a  minute,  '•  but  that  dilapidated  old 
bomb-proof" 

"  See  you  not  something  dark,  and  slightly  moving,  immediately  in  a  line 
with  the  left  angle  of  the  bomb-proof  ?"  De  Haldimar  looked  again.  •'  I  do 
begin  to  fancy  I  see  something,"  he  replied  ;  "but 'so  confusedly  and  indis- 
tinctly, that  I  know  not  whether  it  be  not  merely  an  illusion  of  mj^  imagin- 
ation. Perhaps  it  is  a  stray  Indian  dog  devouring  the  carcass  of  the  wolf 
you  shot  yesterday." 

"  Be  it  dog  or  devil,  liere  is  for  a  trial  of  his  vulnerability.  Sambo,  quick, 
my  rifle." 

The  j-oung  negro  handed  to  his  master  one  of  those  long  heavy  rifles, 
which  the  Indians  usually  make  choice  of  for  killing  buflalo.  elk,  and  other 
animals  whose  wildness  renders  them  dilficult  of  approach.  He  then,  unbid- 
den, and  as  if  tutored  to  the  task,  placed  himself  in  a  stifl"  upi'ight  position  in 
front  of  his  master,  with  every  nerve  and  muscle  braced  to  the  most  inflex- 
ible steadiness.  The  young  officer  next  threw  the  rifle  on  tlie  right  shoulder 
of  the  boy  for  a  rest,  and  prepared  to  take  his  aim  on  the  object  that  had  first 
attracted  his  attention. 

"  Make  haste,  massa, — him  go  directly, — Sambo  see  him  get  up." 

All  was  breathless  attention  among  the  group  of  officers  ;  and  when  the 
sharp  ticking  sound  produced  by  the  cocldng  of  the  rifle  of  theii-  companion 
fell  on  their  ears,  they  bent  their  gaze  upon  the  point  towards  which  the  mur- 
derous weapon  was  levelled  with  the  most  aching  and  intense  interest. 

"  Quick,  quick,  massa, — him  quite  up,"  again  whispered  the  boy. 

The  words  had  scarcely  passed  his  lips,  Vviicn  the  crack  of  the  rille,  followed 
■  by  a  bright  blaze  of  light,  sounded  throughout  the  stillness  of  the  night  with 
exciting  sharpness.  For  an  instant  all  was  hushed ;  but  scarcely  had  the  dis- 
tant woods  ceased  to  reverberate  the  spirit-stirring  echoes,  when  the  anxious 


\V  A  C  O  U  S  T  a;       O  11,     T  Jl  K      1>  K  O  I'  11  E  C  Y  .  15 

group  of  officers  were  sixrpriped  ami  startled  by  a  sudden  Hash,  the  reiwrt  of 
a  second  riiie  from  the  common,  ami  the  M'hizzing;  of  a  bnllct  past  their  ears. 
This  was  instantly  succeeded  by  a  liorce.  wild,  and  prolonged  cry,  expressive 
at  once  of  triumph  and  revenge.  It  was  that  peculiar  cry  which  an  Indian 
utters  when  the  reeking  scalp  has  been  x\'rcstcd  from  his  murdered  victim. 

•'  Missed  him,  as  I  am  a  sinner,"  exclaimed  Sir  Evorard,  springing  to  his 
feet,  and  knocking  the  butt  of  his  rifle  on  the  ground  with  a  movement  of  im- 
patience. "Sambo,  you  young  scoundrel,  it  was  all  your  fault. — you  moved 
your  shoulder  as  I  pulled  the  trigger.  Thank  heaven,  how^ever,  the  aim  of  the 
Indian  appears  to  have  been  no  better,  although  the  sharp  wliistling  of  his 
ball  proves  his  piece  to  have  been  well  levelled  for  a  random  shot." 

'•  His  aim  has  been  too  true,"  faintly  pronounced  the  voice  of  one  somewhat 
in  the  rear  of  his  companions.  "  The  ball  of  the  villain  has  found  a  lodg- 
ment in  my  breast.  God  bless  ye  all,  my  boys ;  may  your  fates  be  more 
lucky  than  mine  !"  While  he  yet  spoke,  Lieutenant  INIurphy  sank  into  the 
arms  of  Blessington  and  Be  Haldimar,  who  had  flown  to  him  at  the  first  in- 
timation of  his  wound,  and  was  in  the  next  instant  a  corpse. 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  To  your  companies,  gentlemen,  to  your  companies  on  the  instant.  There 
is  treason  in  the  fort,  and  we  had  need  of  all  our  diligence  and  caution.  Cap- 
tain De  Haldimar  is  missing,  and  the  gate  has  been  found  unlocked.  Quick, 
gentlemen,  quick ;  even  now  the  savages  may  be  around  us,  though  unseen." 

"  Captain  De  Haldimar  missing ! — the  gate  unlocked  !"  exclaimed  a  number 
of  voices.  '•  Impossible !— surely  we  are  hot  betrayed  by  our  own  men." 
"  The  sentinel  has  been  relieved,  and  is  now  in  irons,"  resumed  the  communi- 
cator of  this  startling  piece  of  intelligence.  It  was  the  adjutant  of  the  regi- 
ment. 

"  Away,  gentlemen,  to  yoiu'  posts  immediately,"  said  Captain  Blessing-ton, 
who,  aided  by  De  Haldimar,  hastened  to  deposit  the  stiffening  body  of  the 
unfortu)iate  Murphy,  which  they  still  supported,  iipon  the  rampart.  Then 
addressing  the  adjutant,  '•  Mr.  Lawson,  let  a  couple  of  files  be  sent  immedi- 
ately to  remove  the  body  of  their  officer." 

"  That  shot  which  I  heard  from  the  common,  as  I  approached,  was  not  fired 
at  random.  I  find,"  observed  the  adjutant,  as  thej^  all_  now  hastily  descended 
to  join  their  men.  "  Who  has  fallen  ?"  ''  ;Mm-phy,  of  the  grenadiers,"  was  the 
rei)ly  of  one  near  him. 

"  Poor  fellow !  oiu-  work  commences  badly,"  resumed  Mr.  Lawson : 
"  Murphy  killed,  and  Captain  De  Haldimar  missing.  We  had  few  officers 
enough  to  spare  before,  and  their  loss  will  be  severely  felt;  I  greatly  fear,  too, 
these  casualties  may  have  a  tendency  to  discourage  the  men." 

"  Nothing  more  easy  than  to  supply  their  place,  by  promoting  some  of  our 
oldest  sergeants,"  observed  Ensign  Delme,  who,  as  well  as  the  ill-fated  Mur- 
phy, had  risen  from  the  ranks.  "If  they  behave  themselves  well,  the  king 
wiil  confirm  their  appointments." 

"  But  my  poor  brother,  what  of  him,  Lawson  ?  what  have  you  learut  con- 
nected with  his  disappearance?"  asked  Charles  de  HaldiVnaT-  with  deep  emo- 
tion. "  Nothing  satisfactory,  I  am  sorry  to  say,"  returnerl  the  ailjiitant:  -in 
fact,  the  whole  afliiir  is  a  mystery  which  no  one  can  unravel ;  even  at  this  mo- 
ment the  sentinel,  Frank"  Halloway,  who  is  strongly  suspected  of  being  privy 
to  his  disappearance,  is  undergoing  a  private  examination  by  your  father,  the 
governor."  .     . 

''  Frank  Halloway  !"  repeated  the  youth  with  a  start  of  astonishment ; 


16       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

"  sui-el}-  Hallowa}^  could  never  prove  a  traitor. — and  especially  to  my  brother, 
whose  "life  he  once  saved  at  the  peril  of  his  owti." 

The  officers  had  now  gained  the  parade,  when  the  '■  Fall  in,  gentloinen,  fall 
in,"  quickly  pronounced  bj'  Major  Blackwater,  prevented  all  further  question- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  j'ounger  De  Haldimar.  The  scene,  though  circum- 
scribed in  limit,  was  pictui-esque  in  effect,  and  might  have  been  happily  Dlus- 
trated  by  the  pencil  of  the  painter.  Tlie  immediate  area  of  the  parade  was 
filled  with  armed  men,  distributed  into  three  divisions,  and  forming,  with  their 
respective  ranks  facing  outwards,  as  many  sides  of  a  hollow  square,  the  mode 
of  defence  invariably  adopted  by  the  governor  in  all  cases  of  sudden  alarm. 

In  a  few  minutes  from  the  falling  in  of  the  oflBcers  with  then-  respecti^'e 
companies,  the  clank  of  irons  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  the  guard-room, 
and  several  forms  were  seen  slowly  advancing  into  the  area  already  occupied 
as  we  have  described.  This  partj'  was  preceded  by  the  adjutant  Lawson,  who. 
advancmg  towards  Major  Blackwater,  communicated  a  message,  that  was  fol- 
lowed b}'  tiie  command  of  the  latter  officer  for  the  three  di-visions  to  face  in- 
wards. The  officer  of  artillerj-  also  gave  the  word  to  liis  men  to  form  lines 
of  single  files  immediately  in  the  rear  of  their  respective  gims,  leaving  Space 
enough  for  the  entrance  of  the  approaching  partj-,  wliich  tonsisted  of  half  a 
dozen  files  of  the  guard,  under  a  aron-commissioned  officer,  and  one  whose 
manacled  limbs,  rather  than  his  unaccoittred  uniform,  attested  him  to  be  not 
merely  a  prisoner,  but  a  prisonei'  confined  for  some  serious  and  tiagrant  of- 
fence. 

This  partj'  now  advanced  through  the  vacant  quarter  of  the  square,  and 
took  then-  stations  immediately  in  the  centre.  Here  the  countenances  of  each, 
and  particularly  that  of  the  prisoner,  who  was,  if  we  may  so  term  it,  the  cen- 
tre of  that  centre,  Avere  thrown  into  strong  relief  by  the  bright  glare  of  the 
torches,  so  that  the  features  of  the  prisoner  stood  revealed  to  those  aroimd  as 
plainly  as  if  it  had  been  noon  day.  Not  a  sound,  not  a  murmur,  escaped  from 
the  ranks  :  but,  though  the  etiquette  and  strict  laA^'S  of  military  chscipline 
chained  all  speech,  the  Avorkings  of  the  inwafd  mind  remained  unchecked ;  and 
as  they  recognised  in  the  prisoner  Frank  Halloway,  one  of  the  bravest  and 
boldest  in  the  field,  and  as  all  had  hitherto  imagined,  one  of  the  most  devoted 
to  his  dutj',  an  irrepressible  thrill  of  amazement  and  dismay  crept  throughout 
the  frames,  and  for  a  moment  blanched  the  cheeks  of  those  especially  Avho  be- 
longed to  the  same  company.  On  being  summoned  from  their  fruitless  search 
after  the  stranger,  to  fall  in  without  delay,  it  had  been  whis])ercd  among  the 
men  that  treason  had  crept  into  the  fort,  and  a  traitor,  pai'tly  detected  in  his 
crime,  had  been  arrested  and  thrown  into  irons :  but  the  idea  of  Frank  Hallo- 
way  being  that  traitor  was  the  last  that  could  have  entered  into  their  thoughts, 
and  yet  they  now  beheld  him  covered  with  every  mark  of  ignomiu}-,  and  about 
to  answer  iiis  high  oifcnce,  in  all  human  probabilit}-,  with  his  life. 

\7ith  the  ofiicers  the  reputation  of  Halloway  for  courage  and  fidelity  stood 
no  less  high ;  but,  while  they  secretly  lamented  the  circumstances  of  his  defal- 
cation, they  could  not  disguise  from  themselves  the  almost  certainty  of  his 
guilt,  for  each,  as  he  now  gazed  i^pon  the  prisoner,  recollected  the  confusion 
and  hesitation  of  manner  he  had  e\inced  when  questioned  by  them  preparatory 
to  then-  ascending  to  the  ramparts. 

Once  .more  the  suspense  of  the  moment  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
other  forms  into  the  area.  They  were  those  of  the  adjutant,  followed  by  a 
drummer,  bearing  his  instrument,  and  the  governor's  orderly,  charged  with 
pens,  ink,  paper,  and  a  book  which,  from  its  peculiar  form  and  color,  eyery 
one  present  knew  to  be  a  copy  of  the  articles  of  war.  A  variety  of  contending 
emotions  passed  through  tlie  breasts  of  many,  as  they  witnessed  the  silent 
progress  of  these  prepai'ations,  rendered  painfully  interesting  by  the  peculiarity 
of  their  position,  and  the  wildness  of  the  hour  at  which  they  thus  found  them- 
selves assembled  together.  The  prisoner  himself  was  unmoved :  he  stood 
proud,  calm,  and  fearless,  amid  the  guard,  of  wliom  he  had  so  recently  formed 


\,  A  i;  Ml   -  i  A  ;     i.i  .:  ,    T  n  i:     i>  i\  o  i'  ji  k  c  V  .  17 

one ;  and  uiiough  his  cjuutLuauc^  was  pa.le,  as  much,  pcrhapy,  from  a  sense  of 
the  ignominious  character  in  -which  lie  appeared  as  froni  more  private  con- 
siderations, still  there  was  nothing  to  denote  either  the  abjectness,  of  fear  or 
the  consciousness  of  merited  disgrace.  Once  or  twice  a  low  sobbing,  that  pro- 
ceeded at  intervals  from  one  of  the  barraclc  windows,  caught  his  ear,  and  he 
turned  liis  glance  in  that  direction  with  a  restless  anxiety,  which  he  exerted 
himself  in  the  instant  afterwards  to  repress;  but  this  -was  the  only  mark  of 
emotion  he  betrayed. 

The  above  dispositions  having  been  hastily  made,  the  adjutant  and  his  as- 
sistants once  more  retired.  After  the  lapse  of  a  minute,  a  tall  mai'tial-Iooking 
man,  habited  in  a  blue  military  frock,  and  of  hau(l-;oiin\  t'loiigh  stern,  haughty, 
and  indexible  features,  entered  the  area.  lie  was  roii;).AL(i  by  Major  Black- 
water,  the  captain  of  artillery,  and  Adjutant  liji-ivson. 

"  Ai-e  the  garrison  all  present,  Mr.  Lawson  ?  are  tlje  officers  all  present  ?" 
"  AU  except  those  of  the  guard,  sir,"  replied  the  adjutant,  touching  his  hat 
Avith  a  submission  that  was  scrupulotisly  exacted  on  all  occasions  of  duty  by 
liis  superior. 

The  governor  passed  his  hand  for  a  moment  over  his  Ijrows.  It  seemed  to 
those  around  liha  as  if  tlie  mention  of  that  guard  luul  vdllfd  up  recollections 
which  gave  nun  pain ;  and  it  might  lie  so,  for  his  eldest  son,  ( 'apiaiu  Frederick 
de  Haldimar,  had  commanded  tlie  guard.  Wiiithei'  lie  h:id  disjippeared,  or  in 
what  manner,  no  one  knew. 

"  Are  the  artillery  all  present.  Captain  Weutworth  ?"  again  demaiided  the 
governor,  after  a  moment  of  silence,  and  in  his  wonted  firm  authoritative  voice. 
"All  present,  sir,"  rejoined  the  oiiicer,  following  the  example  of  the  adju- 
tant, and  saluting  liis  chief. 

"Then  let  a  di-um-head  couvt-martial  h<-  ;i:-~.  n'lLd  iiinurdia(..'ly,  Mr.  Law- 
son,  and  without  reference  to  the  r.)ster  "•'.:<.  i!i!   s.  niiir  uilic.rs  1k'  selected." 

The  adjutant  went  rouml  to  the  rcsiuM:  is  ••  <!■ ,  i.-iiin.-.  irml  ii'.  ;i  low  voice 
warned  Captain  Bles>ii!  rt-.n.  vivA  the  four  senior  suliakerii-',  for  thvd  duty. 
One  by  one  the  offic-r.-.  as  i!i,-y  were  severally  oalk-il  u;ioii,  left  their  places 
in  the  square,  and  sheathing  llieir  swords,  steiijied  into  that  pari  of  the  area 
appointed  rfs  their  (eniporarv  cfa.'-t.  'i'li^y  v.eiv  !io\r  a'l  assembled,  and  Cap- 
t;un  Biessingtou.  the  senior,)';  li;>  resak  iti  the  garrison,  \vas  jireparing  to  ad- 
minister the  customary  oaths,  ^vhen  the  prisoner  Hallovv^ay  advanced  a  pace 
or  two  in  front  of  his  escort,  and  removing  his  cap,  in  a  clear,  firm,  but  re- 
spectful voice,  thus  addressed  the  governor  : — 

••  Colonel  de  Haldimar,  thaL  I  nm  no  traitor,  as  I  have  aivi'ai'y  toM  you, 
the  Almighty  God,  before  whom.  1  ><\-ore  aHegi;nv;e  to  liis  majesty,  can  bear 
me  witness.  Appearances.  I  ovrw.  are  r,;j:ainst  me:  but,  so  tiir  I'roni  lieing  a 
traitor,  I  would  liave  siiee.  my  last  <lr-on  ei'  ;_.e)f)il  in  deteuce  of  the  garri.-.in  and 
yom-  family.  Colonel  de  llaltiimar."'  he  jairsueil,  after  a  moiiiei!.:ir\-  pau.se,  in 
vrhich  he  seemed  to  be  struggii:i;;:  in  subdue  the  eniotioa  vriiieii  rose,  despite 
of  himself  to  his  throat,  '•  i  rejieal.  [  a;ii  no  traitor,  and  I  scorn  the  imputa- 
tion— but  here  ir;  my  best  answer  to  the  charge.  This  wound,  (and  he  un- 
btittoned  his  jacket,  opened  his  shirt,  and  disclosed  a  deep  scar  upon  his  white 
chest.)  this  wound  I  received  in  defence  of  my  captain's  life  at  Quebec.  Had 
I  not  loved  him,  I  .should  not  so  have  exposed  luyself,  neither  but  for  that 
should  I  now  stand  in  tlie  situation  of  shame  and  danger,  in  which  my  com- 
rades behold  me." 

Every  heart  was  touched  by  this  appeal — this  bold  and  manly  appeal 
to  the  consideration  of  the  governor.  T'he  officers,  especiidly,  who  were  fidly 
conversant  with  the  general  merit  of  Hidloway,  were  deeply  affected,  and 
Charles  de  Haldimar — tlie  young,  the  generous,  tlie  feeling  Charles  de  Haldi- 
mar." even  shed  tears. 

••  What  mean  you,  prisoner  ?'•   inteiTOgated  tlie  governor,  after  a  short 
pause,  during  which  lie  ajipeared  to  be  weighing  and  de^hicing  inferences  from 
the  expressions  just  uttered.    '"  What  mean  vou,  by  .s;.;itiug,  but  for  that  (al- 
9. 


18  wACOUSTA;      OB,     THE      PROPHECY. 

tadi„g  to  vou,-  regard  for  C.ptain  do  lfcklin,ar)  you  «v,,uM  not  now  Ix'  in  thl, 

^;:;\:i^;^i:^^<^^^^'^^'  »*,I  respect  ,ny  woM, 
™^C,S\rto'°d:rn?Wo  pledged  yonr^lf  to  .ccrecy !     What 


„ean  you  man  by  th,,  rho^^^^^^^ 

&='i?er's'^to';rdntyMt,»^ 

from  his  own  »<lm.ss.o°.    ^O"", 'JS'^  *4,f^S  tKuo^  has  been  bribed  by, 
speaking  m  an  nod     tone,  as  .f  *«  h.m^^^  ^^^  ^  .^  f^^_ 

^threZSn  iJwas  betntying.li:  suddenly  chVd  himself,  and  assumed 

%Ztttrepl°^raJ;S!Sd^tbr|Vernor  in  the  same  clear.flrm  ,0100 

silver  Y^l^'lf.w  oX  l^im^^^^^  ^^'^^'^^  ^^^'^  °^  *^'  P"?""'"' 

ogmzed  It  foi^^tlmt  ot  the  joim  |^       -^^^  ^y^^^^^  the  sound  pro- 

Agam  the   atter  turned  lu.  &^f  ;^;™'    ^^^^.  ,,.^  distinctly  seen  by  many 

ceeded,  and  by  the  glare  ot  tbe  toiche.  ^  ^ea^  momentary.     In   the 

coursing  down  his  manly  cheek.     ^^    /\^^^!^^.;^^^;\^„  ^ns  cap  stepped  back 

J^"LrltrftrurdI^Sns.o-^onrcharaot.,.r..hat  you  we,,  asham- 
ed to  reyea!  it."  .  ,      j  ij^^j,  j(fj<,t .  fo,.  ;„  the 
These  ™?f  f »  «  °f  *'  ^^*l  ch«t'as  allusion  was  made  to  the  di.sgrace 
tSwor:K't:.'hJ'rmfT,  there- was  e™^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      on,     T  H  K      PROPHECY-  !■& 

may  God,  of  his  mflnite  mercy,  grant,  for  Oaptaiu  do  Huldiniai'sKake, as  wi-11 
as  mine,  1  may  not  then  be  wholly  deserted  !" 

There  was  something  so  peculiar!}-  solemn  and  impressive  in  the  manner  in 
which  the  unhappy  man  now  expressed  himself,  that  a  feeling  of  the  utmost 
awe  crept  into  the  bosoms  of  the  sxirrountliug  throng ;  and  more  than  one 
veteran  of  the  grenadiers,  the  compan\'  to  which  Halloway  belonged,  was 
heard  to  relieve  his  chest  of  the  long  pent-up  sigh  that  struggled  for  j'elease. 

"  Enough,  prisoner,"  rejoined  the  governor  ;  '•  on  this  condition  do  I  grant 
your  request ;  but  recollect, — your  disclosure  ensm-es  no  hope  of  pardon,  un- 
less, mdeed,  you  have  the  fullest  proof  to  offer  in  yom*  defence.  Do  you  per- 
fectly understand  me  ?" 

•'  I  do,"  replied  the  soldier  firmU' ;  and  again  he  placed  his  cap  on  his  head^ 
and  retired  a  step  or  two  back  among  the  guard. 

"  Mr.  Lawson,  let  the  prisoner  be  removed,  and  conducted  to  one  of  th& 
private  cells.     Who  is  the  subaltern  of  the  guard  ?" 

"  Ensign  Fortescue,"  was  the  answer. 

■'  Then  let  Ensign  Fortescue  keep  the  key  of  the  cell  himself.  Tell  him 
moreover,  I  shall  hold  him  individually  responsible  for  his  charge." 

Once  more  the  prisoner  was  marched  out  of  the  area  ;  and,  as  the  clanking 
sound  of  his  chains  became  gradually  fainter  in  tlie  distance,  the  same  voice 
that  had  before  interrupted  the  proceedings,  pronoimced  a  '•  God  be  praised  ! 
God  be  praised  !"  with  such  melody  of  soiTow  in  its  intonations  that  no  one 
could  listen  to  it  unmoved.  Both  officers  and  men  were  more  or  less  affected, 
and  all  hoped — they  scarcely  knew  why  or  what^but  all  hoped  something 
favorable  would  occur  to  save  the  life  of  the  brave  and  unhappy  Prank  Hal- 
loway. 

Of  the  fu'st  interruption  bj-  the  wife  of  the  prisoner  the  governor  had  taken 
no  notice  ;  but  on  this  repetition  of  the  expression  of  her  feelings  be  briefly- 
summoned,  in  the  absence  of  the  adjutant,  the  sergeant-major  of  the  regiment 
to  his  side. 

"  Sergeant-major  Bletson,  I  desire  that,  in  future,  on  all  occasions  of  this- 
kind,  the  women  of  the  regiment  may  be  kept  out  of  the  way.  Look  to  it, 
sir!" 

The  sergeant-major,  who  had  stood  as  erect  as  his  own  halbcrt.  which  he 
held  before  him  in  a  saluting  position,  during  this  brief  adjnonition  of  his 
colonel,  acknowledged,  bj'  a  certain  air  of  deferential  respect  and  dropping  of 
the  eyes,  unaccompanied  by  speech  of  any  kind,  that  he  felt  the  reproof,  and 
would,  in  future,  take  care  to  avoid  all  .similar  cause  for  complaint.  He  then 
stalked  stiffly  away,  and  resumed,  in  a  few  hasty  strides,  his  position  in  rear 
of  the  troops. 

" Haid-hearted  man  !"  pursued  the  same  voice:  "if  my  prayers  of  grati- 
tude to  heaven  give  offence,  may  the  hour  never  come  when  my  lips  shall 
pronounce  their  bitterest  curse  upon  your  severity  !" 

There  was  sometliiug  so  plainly'  wild — so  solemnly  prophetic — in  these 
sounds  of  sorrow  as  they  fell  faintly  upon  the  ear,  and  especially  under  the 
extraordinary  circumstances  of  the  night,  that  they  might  have  been  taken 
for  the  warnings  of  some  supernatural  agency.  During  their  utterance,  not 
even  the  breathing  of  human  life  was  to  be  heard  in  the  ranks.  In  the  next 
instant,  however,  Sergeant-major  Bletson  was  seen  repairing,  with  long  and 
hasty  strides,  to  the  barrack  whence  the  voice  proceeded,  and  the  interruption 
was  heard  no  more. 

jVIeanwhile  the  officers,  who  had  been  summoned  from  the  ranks  for  the^ 
purpose  of  forming  the  court-martial,  still  lingered  in  the  centre  of  the  square, 
apparently  waiting  for  the  order  of  their  superior,  before  thev'  should  resume 
their  respective  stations.  As  the  quick  and  comprehensive  glance  of  Colonel 
de  Haldimar  now  embraced  the  group,  he  at  once  became  sensible  of  the  ab- 
sence of  one  of  the  seniors,  all  of  whom  he  had  desired  should  be  selected  for 
the  court-raaitial. 


^20  wacousta;    or,    the    pkophecy. 

uM     T  .V-  "op  "  he  remaike.1.  somcvdiat  steiiily,  as  the  adjutant  now  re- 

sense  of  the  implication,  ^^ 

;;f:hei:'sStid  th?a^ul^t,  ^^a.,  ^  »  c»uplc  of  flta  of  the  pja^d, 

^'^^-^r.l.SrSZfailri't.ui.e,,  t„e  governor  ;  ^f^^^^ 
"a.dlt  wh Si  c^ldiitd  to  bo  anMan,  lurking  as  a  spy  "P- *;^<;?-"„rif 

to  destroy  an  onomy  at  whatever  hour  1'\™|M^«J™^/™^  ,,1  ,d„w.  those 

^„^  S;nShli::'-,re  tT,  rhtTdi^r^  «t'f  »;  rfndia\:  it  seeded  to 

S;°irat„&h  sentiment  of  P"? -' 'g^'; -triJ  Evcrard  VaUc- 

ihe  governor  started  involmitaniy.        Do  jou  iina„^M,  oir 
tort,  the  aim  of  your  rifle  was  true-that  you  hit  hnn  ?  ^^^^ 

.^xti;ai^hiSSJ^s:fsS3HsfoftS3S 
^;irH\^°o\t^e7it:inTLss^«i'r^^^ 

■"^iVSlrSnot,  si,.,  relied  ^^Erer^^"  ^Sl^SJSt^rr" 
fentl*^i;:!ment%u  t:r;rSe^r.:A-t  ofteceis,  myUnee  ntay 

fee  overlooked '?" 


fee  overlooked '?"  „„  fi^o  ctip<. leer  is  if  he  would  have 

The  o-overnor  fixed  h  s  nenetratmg  eyes  on  the  speakei,  aS  n  nx.  » 

altogether  Avithout  souk-  -ood  ie..al..     liaa  juu  i  ^^ 

■savi^e,  there  ra^-lit  l-.uTo  been  u  decent  palhative  on^Tcd  ,  but  WR..i 


W  A  C  O  I.'  S  'I'  A  -,      OK,     •]■  JI  K      F  R  O  P  11  li  G  Y  .  i^ 

yoiu-  leolinc;,-.  sir,  whoii  you  voticot,  the  doalli  of  yon  officer,"  and  lie  poiuu.il 
to  tlxo  covpso  of  tho  unhappy  Murpliy,  "  is,  in  a  great  ilogrcB,  attributable  to 
yourscif  ?  Had  3'ou  not  pi-ovoked  the  anger  of  the  savage,  and  given  a  dii-ec- 
tion  to  his  aim  by  tho  impotent  and  waiiton  discharge  of  your  o\vn  rifle,  this- 
accident  would  never  have  happened." 

This  severe  reproving  of  an  ollicei-,  \vlin  Itnd  nctcd  from  tlie  most  prafst;^ 
worthy  of  motives,  and  who  could  mf  ,  i'  '  '  \c  anticipated  the  unfortu- 
nate catastrophe  that  had  occurred,  a.  '  especially  liarsh  .lud  «n- 
kind  by  every  one  present ;  and  a  io\v  :  inaudible  nmrmur  passed 
through  the  company  to  '\;-hich  f^ir  Evtravd  v\  ;l.-;  attached.  For  a  mir.ute  or 
two  that  oflicer  appeared  deeply  ]  )a!nod,  not  more  fi'ora  the  rc|>voof  itself  tJiais 
from  the  ncvr  light  in  \\-}<.ich  the  observation  of  his  chief  had  taught  him  to 
view,  for  the  first  time,  the  cavisc'^s  that  hacl  led  to  the  fall  of  Murpiiy.  Firai?- 
iug,  however,  that  the  governor  had  no  further  remarks  to  address  to  Iiim,  lie' 
once  more  returned  to  hi-    "  "'      ' v  ■ '     i  i:;ks. 

'•  Mr.  Lawson,"  resui;.  i     .  I.  turning  to  the  adjutant.  "  f'.?t 

this  victim  be  carried  ^  '     !.  lie  fcU,  and  there  interred.    1 

know  no  better  grave  for  a  sol'  1  :  ■   .-;  V  \l\ni  h;is  been  mofe- 

tened  with  his  blood.     Ilccollei  i';''  I'djuiiiiit  once  mm^i? 

led  the  party  out  of  the  area, —  ■  ;.  .\.\:..\  ^  , .  .  r.-,..  Tn  •  (iuiy  uiust  fe 
silently  performed,  and  vrithout  the  risk  of  ■;:><:,;;  ;  '•  :•  -  :>;' ;  d  ^vi  ■:.  or». 
shower  of  bidlets,  from  the  savages.  Major  !  ■  •  !  ■,.;:  .  li'  ;  :  'H"i.  as  sooa 
as  the  corpse  had  been  rcinovrd.  •■let  [he  i-im  )>!',■  ihii'.-  :;;:ns  cMnas  thtrf 
now  sta,nd,  and  remain  Wiuly  1m  i-dl  iii  :;!  :;  miuuif's  ivilirc.  Sho-uW  any- 
thing extraordinary  happen  Ir.rnro  the  m^riii!i>;',  you  wiii.  <>i' course,  apprises- 
me."  lie  then  strode  out  oi"  tin-  area  vrith  the  same  har.ghty  and  measures^ 
step  that  had  characteriseii  h's  (i  it  ranee. 

''  Our  colonel  does  not  apiieir  to  be  in  one  of  his  most  amiable  moods  to-- 
night," observed  Captnin  iiles-ington,  as  the  officers,  after  having  dispo.S(iy;I 
of  their  respective  companies,  now  proceeded  along  the  ramparts  to  assist  ai 
the  last  funeral  offices  of  their  xnihappy  associate.  "  lie  \v:\s  disposed  to  7m 
sevci'e,  and  must  have  put  you,  in  some  measure,  out  of  conceit  with  yosr 
Itivorite  rifle,  Valletort." 

''  True,"  rejoined  the  baronet,  wlio  had  already  rallied  fVoJii  tlie  Tiioriieniarv 
depression  of  his  spirits,  "  he  hit  me  devilish  hard,  I  eoiiie-s.  and  \,;;s  disjMo. -.5 
to  display  more  of  the  commanding  ofhcer  than  quite  suits  my  ideas  of  c'jc 
service.  His  words  were  as  caustic  as  his  looks  ;  and  could  both  have  pieit'- 
ed  me  to  the  quick,  there  was  no  inclination  on  his  part  wanting.  By  my 
soul  I  could  ....  but  I  forgive  him.  He  is  the  father  of  iny  friend  :  and  for 
that  reason  will  I  chew  the  cud  of  my  mortitievition.  nor  siitfe!-.  if  |iossibtv. 
a  sense  of  his  nnkindness  to  rankle  at  njy  heart.  At  all  events,  f,Ii -singtc.iK 
my  mind  is  made  up,  and  resign  or  exchange  1  certainly  siiall  the  instant  t 
nufl  a  decent  loop-hole  to  creep  out  of" 

Sir  Everard  fancied  the  ear  of  his  captain  was  alone  listening  to  these  ex- 
pressions of  his  feehng,  or  in  all  pi-obability  he  would  not  lr;ve  uttered  theifi- 
As  he  concluded  the  last  sentence,  however,  he  felt  hi  -  :  rni  gently  gi-asped  'by 
one  who  walked  a  pace  or  two  silently  in  their  rear,  .lie  turned,  and  rc^c-sg:- 
nized  Charles  de  Haldimar. 

'•  I  am  sure,  Yalletort,  3-ou  will  believe  how  much  pained  I  have  been  at 
the  severity  of  my  father  ;  but,  indeed,  there  was  nothing  personally  olfensiT& 
intended.  Blcssington  can  tell  yon,  as  well  as  myself,  it  is  his  manner  akk>- 
gether.  Nay,  that  although  he  is  the  first  in  seniority  after  Blackwater,  tte 
governor  treats  liimmth  the  same  distance  and  hauteur  he  would  use  towartfe. 
the  youngest  ensign  in  the  service.  Such  are  the  effects  of  his  long  mihtaff-*- 
habits,  and  his  ideas  of  the  absolutism  of  command.  Am  I  not  right,  Blcs- 
sington ?" 

"  Quite  right,  Chaxles.  Sir  Everard  may  satisfy  himself  his  is  no  solitarjr 
instancc  of  the  stern  severitv  of  vour  father.     Still.  I  confess.  notwithstaiiS- 


•22  W  A  C  O  U  ?  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      PROPHECY. 

ing  tlic  rigidity  of  nianncr  wliich  ho  sceius.  on  all  occasions,  to  think  so  in- 
dispensable to  the  maintenance  of  anthorit}-  in  a  commanding  officer.  I  never 
knew  him  so  inclined  to  find  fault  as  he  is  to-night." 

"  Perhaps."  observed  Yalletort.  good  humorcdly.  ••  his  conscience  is  rather 
restless  ;  and  he  is  willing  to  get  rid  of  it  and  his  spleen  altogether.  I  woidd 
wager  my  rifle  against  the  worthless  scalp  of  the  rascal  I  fired  at  to-night,  tluit 
this  same  stranger,  Avhosc  asserted  appearance  has  called  us  from  our  comfort- 
able beds,  is  but  the  cieation  of  his  disturbed  dreams.  Indeed,  how  is  it  ])os- 
sible  anything  formed  of  flesh  and  blood  could  have  escaped  us  with  the  vigi- 
lant watch  that  has  been  kept  on  the  ramparts  ?  The  old  gentleman  certainly 
liad  that  illusion  strongly  impressed  on  his  inind  when  he  so  sapiently  spoke 
of  my  firing  at  a  shadow."  ,. 

"  But  the  gate."  interrupted  CKal-Ics  de  Haldimar.  with  something  of  mild 
reproach  in  his  tones. — "  you  forget.  Yalletort.  the  gate  was  found  unlocked, 
ami  that  my  brother  is  missing.  He.  at  least,  was  flesh  and  blood,  as  you 
isay,  and  yet  he  has  disappeared.  AVhat  more  probable,  therefore,  than  that 
this  stranger  is  at  once  the  cause  and  the  agent  of  his  abduction  ?" 

"  Impossible.  Charles,"  observed  Captain  Blessington  ;  "  Frederick  was  in  the 
midst  of  his  guard.  How.  therefore,  could  he  be  conveyed  away  without  the 
alarm  being  given  ?  Nimibers  only  could  have  succeeded  in  so  desperate  an 
enterprise; ;  and  yet  there  is  no  evidence,  or  even  suspicion,  of  more  than  one 
individual  having  been  here." 

'■•  It  is  a  singular  affair  altogether."  returned  Sir  Everard,  musingly.  "  Of 
two  things."  however,  I  am  satisfied.  The  first  is,  that  the  stranger,  whoever 
he  may  be,  and  if  he  really  has  been  here,  is  no  Indian ;  the  second,  that  he 
is  personally  known  to  the  governor,  who  has  been,  or  I  mistake  much,  more 
alarmed  at  his  individual  presence  than  if  Ponteac  and  his  whole  band  had 
suddenly  broken  in  upon  us.  Did  you  remark  his  emotion,  when  I  dwelt  on 
i^\t  peculiar  character  of  personal  triumph  and  revenge  which  the  cry  of  the 
Inrkhig  villain  outside  seemed  to  express  ?  and  did  you  notice  the  eagerness 
with  wliich  he  enquired  if  I  thought  I  had  hit  him  ?  Depend  upon  it,  there  is 
"mure  in  all  this  than  is  di-eamt  of  in  our  philosophy." 

'•  And  it  was  your  luidisguised  perception  of  that  emotion,"  remarked 
■Captain  Blessington,  '•  that  drew  down  his  severity  upon  j^our  own  head.  It 
was,  however,  too  palpable  not  to  bo  noticed  by  all ;  and  I  dare  say  conjecture 
is  as  busily  and  as  vaguely  at  Avork  among  our  companions  as  it  is  with  us. 
*flie  clue  to  the  mystery,  in  a  great  degree,  now  dwells  with  Frank  Ilalloway  ; 
ami  to  hhu  wo  nmst  look  for  its  elxicidntion.  His  disclosure  Avill  be  one,  I 
«ppreb.end.  full  of  ignominy  to  himself,  but  of  the  highest  interest  and  im- 
portance to  us  all.  And  yet  I  know  not  how  to  believe  the  man  the  traitor 
iic  appears." 

••  Di<l  you  remark  that  last  harrowing  exclamation  of  his  wife?"  observed 
4'htirles  de  Haldimar,  in  a  tone  of  unspeakable  melancholy.  "  How  fearfully 
prophetic  it  sounded  in  my  ears.  I  know  not  how  it  is,"  he  pursued,  "  but  1 
wisli  I  had  not  heard  those  sounds  ;  for  since  that  moment  I  have  had  a  sad 
strange  presentiment  of  evnl  at  my  heart.  Heaven  grant  my  poor  brother 
snay  make  his  appearance,  as  I  still  trust  he  will,  at  the  hour  Ilalloway  seems 
to  expect,  for  if  not,  the  latter  most  assuredly  dies.  I  know  my  father  well  ; 
and,  if  convicted  by  a  court  martial,  no  human  poA\'er  can  alter  the  destiny  that 
awaits  Frank  Halloway." 

"  Bally,  my  dear  Charles,  riilly."  said  Sir  Everard,  affecting  a  confidence  he 
<lid  not  feel  himself ;  "  indulge  not  in  these  idle  and  superstitious  fancies.  T 
pity  Halloway  from  my  soul,  ind  feel  the  deepest  interest  in  his  prettj^  and 
ttnhappy  wife  ;  but  that  is  no  reason  why  one  should  attach  importance  to  the 
incoherent  expressions  wrung  from  her  in  the  agony  of  grief." 

''  It  is  kind  of  you,  "V'alletort,  to  endeavor  to  cheer  my  spirits,  when,  if  the 
Aruth  were  confessed,  you  acknowledge  the  influence  of  the  same  feelings.     I 


\V  A  C  O  U  S  T  A   ;      O  U  ,     THE      PROPHECY.  23 

thank  you  for  the  attempt,  l)ut  time  alone  can  show  how  far  I  shall  liave 
reason,  or  othei-wise.  to  lament  the  oceiirrLMiccs  of  this  night." 

They  had  now  reached  that  part  of  the  ramparts  whence  the  shot  from  Sir 
Everard's  ride  had  been  fired.  Several  men  were  ocenpied  in  diiiiiini;-  a  ni-ave 
in  the  precise  spot  on  which  the  unfortunate  iMurpiiy  had  stood  when  he  re- 
ceived his  death  wound  ;  and  into  this,  when  completed,  the  liody,  enshromi-. 
ed  in  the  cloak  already  alluded  to.  was  deposited  hy  his  comjianions. 


CIIAPTEll  IIJ. 

While  the  adjutant  was  yet  reading,  in  a  low  and  solemn  voice,  the  service 
for  the  dead,  a  tierce  and  distant  yell,  as  if  from  a  legion  of  devils,  burst  sud- 
denly from  the  forest,  ami  l/rougjit  the  hands  of  the  startled  ofticers  instinc- 
tively to  their  swords.  This  appalling  cry  lasted  without  interruption,  for 
many  minutes,  and  was  then  as  abiuptly  checked  as  it  had  been  unexpectedly 
dehvered.  A  considerable  pause  succeeded,  and  then  it  rose  with  even  more 
startling  vehemence  than  before.  By  one  unaccustomed  to  those  devilish 
sounds,  no  distinction  could  have  been  made  in  the  two  several  yells  that  had 
been  thus  savagely  pealed  forth  ;  but  those  to  whom  practice  and  long  expe- 
rience in  the  warlike  habits  and  ciistoms  of  the  Indians  had  rendered  their 
shouts  familiar,  at  once  divined,  ot-  fancied  thej'  divined,  the  cause.  The  finst 
was.  to  their  conception,  a  yell  expressive  at  once  of  vengeance  and  disappoint- 
ment in  piu'snit, — perhaps  of  some  prisoner  who  had  escaped  from  their  toils  ; 
the  second,  of  triumph  and  success, — in  all  ])robability,  indicative  of  the  re- 
capture of  that  prisoner.  For  many  minutes  afterwards  the  officers  continued 
to  listen,  with  the  most  aching  attention,  for  a  repetition  of  the  cry,  or  even 
fainter  sounds,  that  might  denote  either  a  nearer  approach  to  the  fort,  or  the 
final  departure  of  the  Indians.  xVfter  the  second  yell,  however,  the  woods,  in 
the  heart  of  whicli  it  appeared  to  have  been  uttered,  were  buried  in  as  pro- 
found a  silence  as  if  they  had  never  yet  echoed  back  the  voice  of  man  ;  and  all 
at  length  became  satisfied  that  the  Indians,  having  accomplished  some  parti- 
cular purpose,  had  retired  once  more  to  their  distant  encampment  for  the 
night.  Captain  Erskine  was  the  first  who  broke  the  almost  breathless  silence 
that  prevailed  among  themselves. 

"  On  my  life,  I)e  Haldimar  is  a  prisoner  with  the  Indians.  He  has  been  at- 
tempting his  escape — has  been  detected, — followed,  and  again  fallen  into  their 
hands.  I  know  their  infernal  yells  l)ut  too  well.  The  last  expix'ssed  their 
savage  joy  at  the  capture  of  a  prisoner  ;  and  there  is  no  one  of  us  missing  but 
De  Haldimar." 

"  Not  a  doubt  of  it,"  said  Captain  Blessington  ;  the  cry  Avas  certainly  what 
you  describe  it.  and  Heaven  onlv  knows  what  will  be  the  fate  of  our  poor 
friend." 

No  other  oflBcer  spoke,  for  all  were  oppressed  by  the  weight  of  their  own 
feelings,  and  souglit  rather  to  give  indulgence  to  speculation  in  secret,  than  to 
share  their  impi-essions  with  their  companions.  Charles  de  Haldimar  stood  a 
little  in  the  rear,  leaning  his  head  upon  his  hand  against  the  box  of  the  sentry, 
(who  was  silently  though  anxiously  pacing  his  walk.)  and  in  an  attitude  ex- 
pressive of  the  deepest  dejection  and  sorrow. 

"  I  suppose  I  must  finish  Lawson's  work,  althongli  I  am  but  a  poor  hand  at 
this  sort  of  thing,"  resumed  Captain  Erskine,  taking  up  the  prayer  book  tlie 
adjutant  had,  in  hastening  on  the  first  alarm  to  get  the  men  under  arms,  care- 
lessly thrown  on  tho  grave  of  the  now  unconscious  Murphy. 

He  then  commenced  the  service  at  the  ))oint  where  Mr.  Lawson  had  so 
abruptly  broken  off,  and  went  through  the  remainder  of  the  prayers.  A  ^'cry 
few  minutes  sufficed  for  the  performance  of  this  solemn  duty,  whicli  was  afiected 


34  W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      O  II  ,     THE      PROPHECY. 

by  the  fniut  (iiiii  liiiht  of  the  at  IcngtJi  dawniuo,'  day,  and  the  men  in  attend- 
ance proceeded  to  till  np  tiie  grave  of  their  officer. 

Gradual!}'-  tlie  mists,  that  had  fallen  diiriiig  the  latter  hours  of  the  night, 
began  to  ascend  from  the  common,  and  disperse  themselves  in  air,  conveying 
the  appearance  of  a  rolling  sheet  of  vapor  retiring  back  upon  itself,  and  dis- 
closing objects  in  succession,  until  the  eye  could  embrace  all  that  came  within 
its  extent  of  vision.  As  the  ofHcei's  yet  lingered  near  the  rude  grave  of  their 
companion,  watching  with  abstracted  air  the  languid  and  almost  mechanical 
action  of  their  jaded  men,  as  they  emptied  shovel  after  shovel  of  the  damp 
eai'th  over  the  body  of  its  new  tenant,  they  were  suddenly  startled  by  an  ex- 
pression of  exultation  from  Sir  Evcrard  Valletort. 

"By  Jupiter.  I  have  pinked  him,"  he  exclaimed  triumphantly.  "I  knew 
my  ritle  could  not  err ;  and  a;-;  for  my  sight,  I  h.ave  cai-ried  away  too  many 
prizes  in  target-sliooting  to  have  been  deceived  in  that.  How  delighted  the 
old  governor  will  be,  Charles,  to  hear  this.  No  more  lectui-ing.  I  am  sure,  for 
the  next  six  months  at  least ;"  and  the  young  officer  rubbei  his  hands  to- 
gether, at  tlic  success  of  his  shot,  with  as  much  satisfaction  and  unconcern  for 
the  future,  as  if  he  had  licen  in  his  own  native  England,  in  the  midst  of  a 
prize-ring. 

Roused  by  the  observation  of  liis  friend,  Do  Haldimar  quitted  his  position 
near  the  sentry  box,  and  advanced  to  the  outer  edge  of  the  rampart.  To  him, 
as  to  his  companions,  the  outline  of  the  old  bomb-proof  was  now  distinctly 
visible,  but  it  was  some  time  lu-fore  they  could  discover,  in  the  direction  ia 
which  Valletort  pointed,  a  dark  speck  upon  the  common ;  and  this  so  indis- 
tinctl}^,  they  could  scarcely  distinguish  it  with  the  naked  eye. 

"  Your  sight  is  quite  equal  to  your  aim,  Sir  Evcrard,"  remarked  Lieutenant 
Johnstone,  one  of  Erskine's  subalterns,  '•'  and  both  are  decidedly  superior  to 
mine  ;  yet  T  used  to  be  thought  a  good  rifleman  too.  and  have  credit  for  an  e3-e 
no  less  keen  than  that  of  an  Indian ;  you  have  the  advantage  of  me,  however ; 
for  I  honestly  admit  I  never  could  have  picked  off  yon  fellow  in  the  dark  as 
you  have  done." 

As  the  dawn  increased,  the  dark  shadow  of  a  human  form,  stretched  at  its 
length  upon  the  ground,  became  perceptible  ;  and  the  officers,  with  one 
unanimous  voice,  bore  loud  testimony  to  the  skill  and  dexterity  of  him  who 
had,  under  such  extreme  disadvantages,  accomplished  the  death  of  their  skulk- 
ing enemy. 

"  Bravo,  Valletort,"  said  Charles  de  Haldimar,  recovering  his  spirits,  as 
much  from  the  idea,  now  occuring  to  him.  that  this  might  indeed  be  the 
.stranger  Avhose  appearance  had  so  gi'eatly  disturbed  his  father,  as  from  the 
gratitication  he  felt  in  the  praises  bestowed  on  his  friend.  '•  Bravo,  my  dear 
fellow  !"  then  approaching,  and  in  a  half  whisper,  "  when  next  I  write  to 
Clara,  T  shall  request  her,  with  my  cousin's  assistance,  to  prepare  a  chaplet  of 
bays,  wherewith  I  shall  myself  crown  you  as  their  proxy.  But  what  is  the 
matter  now,  Valletort  1  Why  stand  you  there  gazing  upon  the  common,  as 
if  the  victim  of  yom-  murderous  aim  was  rising  from  his  bloody  couch,  to  re- 
proach you  with  his  deatli '?  Tell  me.  shall  I  write  to  Clara  for  the  prize,  or 
will  you  receive  it  from  her  own  hands  ?" 

"  Bid  her  i-ather  pour  her  curses  on  my  head  ;  and  to  those,  De  Haldimar. 
add  your  own,"  exclaimed  Sir  Kverard,  at  length  raising  himself  from  the 
statue-like  position  he  had  assumed.  "  Almighty  God,"  he  pursued,  in  the 
same  tone  of  deep  agony,  "  what  have  I  done  ?    Where  shall  1  hide  myself?" 

As  he  spoke  he  turned  away  from  his  companions,  and  covering  his  eyes 
with  his  hand,  with  quick  and  unequal  steps,  even  like  those  of  a  drunken 
man,  walked,  or  rather  ran,  along  the  rampart,  as  if  fearful  of  being  over- 
taken. The  whole  group  of  officers,  and  Charles  de  Haldimar  in  particular, 
were  struck  with  dismay  at  the  language  and  action  of  Sir  Evei-ard ;  and  for 
a  moment  they  fancied  that  fiitigue,  and  watching,  and  excitement,  had  par- 
tmlly  aiiccted  his  brain.     But  wlien,  after  tlie  lapse  of  a  minute  or  two,  they 


W  A  C  O  tl  S  T  A  ;      l>  R  ,     THE      P  R  0  P  U  K  C  Y  .  35 

agiiin  loiikeil  out  upon  the  conv.uon,  ihc  secret  of  his  agitation  was  too  faith- 
fully and  too  painfully  explained. 

What  had  at  lirst  the  dusky  and  dingy  hue  of  a  half-naked  Indian,  was 
now  perceived,  by  the  briglit  beams  of  light  just  feathering  in  the  oast,  to  be 
the  gay  and  striking  uniforiu  of  a  British  officer.  Doubt  as  to  who  that  offi- 
cer was  there  could  be  none,  for  the  white  sword-belt  suspended  over  the 
right  shoulder,  and  thrown  into  strong  relief  by  the  field  of  scarlet  on  which 
it  reposed,  denoted  the  wearer  of  this  distinguished  badge  of  duty  to  be  one 
of  the  guard. 

If  the)''  could  regret,  the  loss  of  such  a  companion  as  Mitrphj'-,  how  deep 
and  heartfelt  must  have  been  the  sorrow  they  experienced  when  they  beheld 
the  brave,  generous,  manly,  amiable,  and  highly-talented  Frederick  de  Ilaldi- 
mar — the  pride  of  the  garrison,  and  the  idol  of  his  family — lying  extended,  a 
cold,  senseless  corpse,  slain  by  the  hand  of  the  bosom  friend  of  his  brother  ! — 
Notwithstanding  the  stern  severity  and  distance  of  the  governor,  whom  few 
circumstances,  however  critical  or  exciting,  could  surprise  into  relaxation  of 
his  habitual  stateliness.  it  would  have  been  dilficult  to  name  two  j'oung  men 
more  universally  liked  and  esteemed  by  their  brother  officers  than  were  the 
De  Haldimars — the  first  for  the  qualities  already  named — the  second,  for  those 
retiring,  mild,  winning  manners,  and  gentle  aflections,  added  to  extreme  and 
almost  feminine  beauty  of  countenance  for  which  he  was  remarkable.  Alas, 
what  a  gloomy  picture  was  now  exhibited  to  the  minds  of  all !  Frederick  de 
Haldimar  a  corpse,  and  slain  by  the  hand  of  Sir  Everard  Valletort  !  What 
but  disunion  could  follow  this  melancholy  catastrophe  ?  and  how  could  Charles 
de  Haldimar,  even  if  his  bland  nature  should  survive  the  shock,  ever  bear  to 
look  again  upon  the  man  who  had,  however  innocently  or  imintentionally, 
deprived  him  of  a  brother  whom  he  adored  ? 

These  were  the  impressions  that  passed  through  the  minds  of  the  compas- 
sionating officers,  as  they  directed  their  glance  alternately  from  the  common 
to  the  pale  and  marble-like  features  of  the  younger  De  Haldimar,  who.  with 
parted  lips  and  stupid  gaze,  continued  to  fix  liis  eyes  upon  the  inanimate  form 
of  his  ill-fated  brother,  as  if  the  very  faculty  of  life  itself  had  been  for  a  period 
suspended.  At  length,  however,  while  his  companions  watched  in  silence  the 
mining  workings  of  that  grief  which  they  feared  to  interrupt  by  ill-timed  ob- 
servations, even  of  condolence,  the  death-like  hue,  which  had  hitherto  suftused 
the  usually  blooming  cheek  of  the  young  officer,  was  succeeded  by  a  flush  of 
the  deepest  dye,  while  his  eyes,  swollen  by  the  tide  of  blood  now  rushing 
violent^  to  his  face,  appeared  to  be  bursting  from  their  sockets.  The  shock 
was  more  than  his  delicate  frame,  exhausted  as  it  was  by  watching  and  fa- 
tigue, could  bear.  He  tottered,  reeled,  pressed  his  hand  upon  his  head,  and 
before  any  one  could  render  him  assistance,  fell  senseless  on  the  ramparts. 

Dm-ing  the  interval  between  Sir  Everard  Yalietort's  exclamation,  and  the 
fall  of  Charles  de  Haldimar,  the  men  employed  at  the  grave  had  performed 
their  duty,  and  were  gazing  with  mingled  astonishment  and  concern,  both  on 
the  body  of  their  mm*dered  officer,  and  on  the  dmnb  scene  acting  around 
them.  Two  of  these  were  now  despatched  for  a  litter,  with  which  they 
speedily  re-appeared.  On  this  Charles  de  Haldimar,  already  delirious  with 
the  fever  of  intense  excitement,  was  carefully  placed,  and.  followed  by  Captain 
Blessington  and  Lieutenant  Johnstone,  borne  to  his  apartment  in  the  small 
range  of  buildings  constituting  the  officers'  bariacks.  Captain  Erskine  un- 
dertook the  disagreeable  office  of  communicunni:-  Ih'jse  distressing  events  to 
the  governor ;  and  the  remainder  of  the  ofiicers  once  more  hastened  to  join 
or  linger  near  their  respective  companions,  in  readiness  for  the  order  which  it 
was  expected  would  be  given  to  despatch  a  numerous  party  of  the  garrison 
to  secure  the  body  of  ( -aptain  de  Haldimar. 


26  vv  A  c  0  u  s  T  A  ;    on 


O  P  H  E  C  V  . 


CHAPTER   IV. 

The  sun  was  just  rising  above  the  horizon,  in  all  that  peculiar  softness  of 
splendor  which  characterises  the  early  days  of  autumn  in  America,  as  Cap- 
tain Erskine  led  his  company  across  the  drawbridge  that  communicated  with 
the  fort.  It  was  the  first  time  it  had  been  lowered  since  the  investment  of  the 
garrison  by  the  Indians  ;  and  as  the  dull  and  rusty  chains  performed  their 
service  with  a  harsh  and  grating  soimd,  it  seemed  as  if  an  earnest  were  given 
of  melanchoh-  boding.  Although  the  distance  to  be  traversed  was  small,  the 
risk  the  party  incuired  was  great ;  for  it  was  probable  the  savages,  ever  on 
the  alert,  woxild  not  suffer  them  to  effect  their  object  unmolested.  It  waa 
perhaps  singular,  and  certainly  contradictory,  that  an  officer  of  the  acknow- 
ledgetl  prudence  and  forethought  ascribed  to  the  governor — qualities  which  in 
a  great  degree  neutralized  his  excessive  severity  in  the  eyes  of  his  troops — 
should  have  hazai-ded  the  chance  of  having  his  garrison  enfeebled  by  the  de- 
struction of  a  part,  if  not  of  the  whole,  of  the  company  appointed  to  this 
dangerous  duty  ;  but  with  all  his  sevei-ity,  Colonel  de  Haldimar  was  not  with- 
out strong  affection  for  his  children.  The  feelings  of  the  father,  therefore,  in 
a  great  degree  triumphed  over  the  prudence  of  the  commander :  and  to  shield 
the  corpse  of  his  son  from  the  indignities  which  he  well  knew  would  be  in- 
flicted on  it  by  Indian  barbarity,  he  had  been  induced  to  accede  to  the  earn&st 
prayer  of  Captain  Erskine,  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  lead  out  his  com- 
pany for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  body.  Every  means  were,  however, 
taken  to  cover  the  advance,  and  ensure  the  retreat  of  the  detachment.  The 
remainder  of  the  troops  were  distributed  along  the  rear  of  the  ramparts,  with 
instructions  to  lie  flat  on  their  faces  until  summoned  by  their  olflcers  from 
that  position ;  which  was  to  be  done  only  in  the  event  of  close  pursuit  from 
the  savages.  Artillerymen  were  also  stationed  at  the  several  guns  that  flanked 
the  rear  of  the  fort,  and  necessarily  commanded  both  the  common  and  the 
outskirt  of  the  forest,  with  orders  to  fire  with  grape-shot  at  a  given  signal. 
Captain  Erskine's  instructions,  were,  moreover,  if  attacked,  to  retreat  back 
under  the  guns  of  the  fort  slowly  and  in  good  order,  and  without  turning  his 
back  upon  the  enemy. 

Thus  confident  of  support,  the  party,  after  traversing  the  drawbridge  with 
fixed  bayonets,  inclined  to  the  riglit.  and  following  the  winding  of  the  ditch 
by  which  it  was  surruunded,  made  the  semi-circuit  of  the  rampart  until  they 
gained  the  immediate  centre  of  the  rear,  and  in  a  direct  line  with  the  bomb- 
proof Here  their  made  of  advance  was  altered,  to  guard  more  ellectually 
against  the  enemy  with  whom  they  might  possibly  have  to  contend.  The 
iVont  and  rear  ranks  of  the  company,  consisting  in  all  of  ninety  men,  were  so 
placed  as  to  leave  space  in  the  event  of  attack,  for  a  portion  of  each  to  wheel 
inwards  so  as  to  present  in  an  instant  three  equal  faces  of  a  square.  As  the 
rear  was  sufficiently  covered  by  the  cannon  of  the  fort  to  defeat  any  attempt 
to  turn  their  flanks,  the  manoMivre  was  one  that  enabled  them  to  present  a 
fuller  front  in  whatever  otlier  quarter  they  might  be  attacked  ;  and  had  this 
additional  advantage,  that  in  the  advance  by  single  files  a  narrower  front  was 
given  to  the  aim  of  the  Indians,  who,  unless  they  fired  in  an  oblique  direction, 
could  only  of  necessity,  bring  down  two  men  (the  leading  files)  at  a  time. 

In  this  order,  and  anxiously  overlooked  by  their  comrades,  whose  eyes 
alone  peered  from  above  the  surface  of  the  rampart  on  which  they  lay  pros- 
trate, the  detachment ' crossed  the  common;  one  rank  headed  by  Captain 
Erskine,  the  other  by  Lieutenant  Johnstone.  They  had  now  approached 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  unfortunate  victim,  when  Captain  Erskine  com- 
manded a  halt  of  his  party  ;  and  two  files  were  ditached  from  the  rear  of 
each  rank,  to  place  the  body  on  a  litter  with  wliich  they  Jiad  provided  tliem- 
selves.     lie  and  Johnstone  also  moved  in  the  same  direction  in  advanc;  of  the 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE     PROPHECY.  27 

men,  prcparctl  to  render  assistance  if  reriniveii.  The  corpse  lay  on  its  face, 
and  in  no  way  despoiled  of  any  of  its  alitterinir  habiliments ;  a  circumstance 
that  too  well 'confirmed  the  fi^ct  of  I)c  Tfnldiinar's  doatli  lia\'ing  Veen  accom- 
plished by  the  ball  from  Sir  Everard  A'alletort's  rifle.  It.  ajipearcd,  however, 
the  ill-fated  officer  had  struii'uled  much  in  the  agonies  of  death ;  for  the  left 
leg  was  drawn  up  into  an  unnatural  state  of  contractii)n,  and  the  right  hand, 
closelj-  compressed,  grasped  a  (juantity  of  grass  and  .soil,  which  had  been  evi- 
dently torn  up  in  a  paroxysm  of  sntferiiig  and  despair. 

The  men  placed  the  litter  at  the  side  of  the  body,  whicli  they  now  pro- 
ceeded to  raise.  As  they  were  in  the  act  of  depositing  it  on  this  temporary 
bier,  the  plumed  hat  fell"  from  the  head,  and  disclosed,  to  the  astonishment  of 
all.  the  scalpless  crown  comi)letely  saturated  in  its  own  clotted  blood  and 
oozing  bi-ains.  An  exclamation  of  horror  and  disgust  escaped  at  the  same 
moment  from  the  lips  of  the  two  olHccr.s,  and  the  men  started  back  from  their 
charge  as  if  a  liasilisk  liad  suddenly  appeared  before  them.  Captain  Erskino 
pursued  : — 

'•What  the  devil  is  the  meaning  of  all  this,  Johnstone?"  "What,  in- 
deed !"  rejoined  his  lieutenant,  with  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders,  that  was  in- 
tended to  express  his  inability  to  form  any  opinion  on  the  subject. 

"  Unless  it  should  prove,"  continued  Er.skine.  "  as  I  sincerely  trust  it  may, 
that  poor  Yalletort  is  not.  after  all,  the  murderer  of  his  friend,  it  must  be 
so.  I)e  Ilaldimar  has  been  slain  W  the  same  Indian  who  killed  Murphy. 
Do  you  recollect  his  sCalp  cry  ?  He  wa,s  in  the  act  of  despoiling  his  victim 
of  this  trophy  of  success,  when  Sir  Everai-d  fired.  Examine  the  body  well, 
Mitchell,  and  discover  where  the  wound  lies." 

The  old  soldier  to  whom  this  order  wa.s  addressed  now  prepared,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  comrades,  to  turn  the  body  upon  its  back,  when  suddenly 
the  air  was  rent  with  terrific  yells,  that  .seemed  to  be  uttered  in  their  very 
ears,  and  in  the  next  instant  more  than  a  Inmdred  dark  and  hideous  savages 
sprang  simultaneously  to  their  feet  within  the  bomb-proof  while  every  tree 
along  the  sku't  of  the  forest  gave  back  the  towering  form  of  a  warrior.  Each 
of  these,  in  addition  to  hi.<  rifle,  was  armed  with  all  those  destructive  imple- 
ments of  warfare  which  render  the  Indians  of  America  so  formidable  and  so 
terrible  an  enemy. 

''Stand  to  your  arms,  men."  shoutecl  Captain  Er.skine.  recovering  from 
his  first  and  unavoidable,  though  but  momentary,  sm-prise.  "  First  and 
fourth  sections,  on  your  right  and  left  backwards  wheel : — Quick,  men.  with- 
in the  square,  for  your  lives."  As  he  spoke,  he  and  Lieutenant  Johnstone 
sprang  hastily  back,  and  in  time  to  obtain  admittance  within  the  troops,  who 
had  rapidly  executed  the  mancjeuvre  commanded.  Not  so  vrith  Mitchell  and 
his  companions.  On  the  first  alarm  they  had  quitted  the  body  of  the  muti- 
lated officer,  and  flown  to  secure  their  arras,  but  even  while  in  the  act  of 
stooping  to  take  them  up.  they  had  been  grappled  by  a  powerful  and  vindict- 
ive foe  ;  and  the  first  thing  they  beheld  on  regaining  their  upright  position, 
was  a  dusky  Indian  at  the  side'  and  a  gleaming  tomahawk  flashing  rapicUy 
round  the  head  of  each. 

"^^'ire  not,  on  your  lives,"  exclaimed  Captain  Erskine  hastily,  as  he  saw 
several  of  the  men  in  front  levelling,  i^i  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  their 
muskets  at  the  threatening  savages'.  '•  Prepare  for  attack."  he  pm-sued  ;  and 
in  the  next  instant  each  man  dropped  on  his  right  knee,  and  a  barrier  of 
bristling  bayonets  seemed  to  rise  from  the  very  bowels  of  the  earth.  Attracted 
by  the  novelty  of  the  sight,  the  bold  and  daring  warriors,  although  still  retain- 
ing their  firm  grasp  of  the  unhappy  soldiers,  were  for  a  moment  diverted 
from  their  bloody  purpose,  and  temporarily  suspended  the  quick  and  rotatory 
motion  of  their  weapons.  Captain  Erskine  took  advantage  of  this  pause  to 
seize  the  halbert  of  one  of  his  sergeants,  to  the  extreme  point  of  which  he 
hastily  attached  a  white  pocket  handkerchief,  that  was  loosely  thrust  into 


28  \V  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE     P  R  0  P  H  K  C  Y , 

the  breast  of  his  uniform ;  tliis  he  AvaveJ  on  liigh  three  several  times,  and 
then  relinquishing  the  halbert,  dropped  also  on  his  knee  within  the  square. 

"  The  dog  of  a  Saganaw  asks  for  mercj^,"  said  a  voice  from  within  the 
bomb-proof,  and  speaking  in  the  dialect  of  the  Ottawas.  "  His  pale  liag  be- 
speaks the  quailing  of  his  heart,  and  liis  attitude  denotes  the  timidity  of  the 
hind.  His  warriors  are  like  himself,  and  even  now  upon  their  knees  they 
Ciill  upon  their  JNIanitou  to  preserve  them  from  the  vengeance  of  tlic  red- 
skins. But  mercy  is  not  for  dogs  like  these.  Now  is  the  time  to  make  our 
tomahawks  warm  in  their  blood ;  and  every  head  that  v/e  count  sliall  be  a 
scalp  upon  our  war  poles." 

As  he  ceased,  one  universal  and  portentous  yell  burst  from  the  fiend-like 
band  ;  and  again  the  weapons  of  death  were  fiercely  brandished  around  the 
heads  of  the  stupified  soldiers  who  had  fallen  into  tlioir  power. 

"  What  can  they  be  about  ?"  anxiously'  exclaimed  Captain  Erslcine.  in  the 
midst  of  this  deafening  clamor,  to  his  subaltern.  ''  Quiet,  man  ;  uanin  you, 
quiet,  or  I'll  cut  you  down,"  he  pursued,  addressing  o^ie  of  his  soldiers,  whose 
impatience  caused  him  to  bring  liis  musket  half  up  to  his  shoulder.  And 
again  lie  turned  his  head  in  the  direction  of  tlie  fort : — •'  Thank  Goil.  here  it 
comes  at  last, — I  feared  my  signal  h.ad  not  been  noticed." 

While  he  yet  spoke,  the  loud  roaring  of  a  cannon  from  the  ramparts  was 
heard,  and  a  shower  of  grape-shot  passed  over  the  heads  of  tlic  detachment, 
and  was  seen  tearing  up  the  earth  around  the  bomb-proof,  and  scattering 
fragments  of  stone  and  wood  into  the  air.  The  men  simultaneously  and  im- 
bidden  gave  three  cheers. 

In  an  instant  the  scene  was  changed.  As  if  moved  by  some  mechanical 
impulse,  the  fierce  band  that  lined  the  bomb-proof  sank  below  the  surface, 
and  were  no  longer  visible,  while  the  warriors  in  the  forest  again  sought  shel- 
ter ])ehmd  the  trees.  Tlie  captured  soldiers  were  also  liberated  without  in- 
jury, so  sudden  and  startling  had  been  the  terror  produced  in  the  savages  by 
the  lightning  flash  that  announced  its  heavy  messengers  of  destruction.  'Dis- 
charge after  discharge  succeeded  \vithout  intermission  ;  but  the  guns  had 
been  levelled  so  high,  to  ]:)revcnt  injury  to  their  own  men,  they  had  little 
other  cfiect  than  to  keep  the  Indians  from  the  attack.  The  rush  of  bullets 
through  the  close  forest,  and  the  ci-ashing  of  trees  and  branches  as  they  fell 
with  startling  force  upon  each  other,  were,  with  the  peals  of  artillery,  the 
only  noises  now  to  be  heard;  for  not  a  ycl],  not  a  word  was  uttered  by  the 
Indians  after  the  first  discharge  ;  and  but  for  the  certainty  that  existed  in 
every  mind,  it  might  have  been  supposed  the  whole  of  them  had  retired. 

"  Now  is  your  time,"  cried  Captain  Erskine ;  '"  ))ring  in  the  litter  to  the 
rear,  and  stooj)  as  much  as  possible  to  avoid  the  shot." 

The  poor  half-strangled  fellows,  howcvci",  instead  of  obeying  the  order  of 
their  captain,  looked  I'ound  in  every  dii'ection  for  the  enemy  by  whom  they 
had  been  so  rudely  handled,  and  who  had  glided  from  them  almost  as  imper- 
ceptily  and  swiftly  as  they  had  at  first  approached.  It  seemed  as  if  they 
apprehended  tliat  any  attempt  to  remove  the  body  would  lie  visited  by  those 
fierce  devils  with  the  same  appalling  and  ferocious  threatenings. 

''  Why  stand  ye  there,  ye  dolts,"  continued  their- captain,  "  looking  around 
as  if  ye  were  bewitched  7  Bring  the  litter  into  the  rear.  ]\Iitchell,  you 
fool,  are  you  grown  a  coward  in  your  old  age?  Are  you  not  ashamed  to 
.set  such  an  example  to  your  comrades  ?" 

The  doubt  thus  implied  of  the  courage  of  his  men,  who,  in  fact,  were 
merely  stupified  with  the  scene  they  had  gone  through,  had,  as  Captain 
Erskine  expected,  the  desired  effect.  They  now  bent  themselves  to  the  litter,  on 
which  they  had  previousl}^  deposited  their  muskets,  and  with  a  self-possession 
that  contrasted  singularly  with  their  recent  air  of  Avild  astonishment,  bore  it 
to  tlie  rear  at  the  risk  of  being  cut  in  two  at  every  moment  by  the  fire  from 
the  fort.  One  fierce  yell,  instinctively  proffered  by  several  of  the  lurking  band 
in  the  forest,  marked  their  disappointment  and  rage  at  the  escape  of  their 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     T  H  E      T  K  O  1'  11  K  C  V  .  Uf'.i 

victims ;  but  all  iitteiiipt  at  uncovering  themselves,  so  as  to  be  enabled  to  fire, 
■\ra>;  prevented  by  the  additional  showers  of  grape  which  that  yell  immediately 
brought  upon  them. 

Tlie  position  in  which  Captain  Erskhie  now  found  himself  was  highly  crit- 
ical. Before  him.  and  on  either  flank,  was  a  multitude  of  savages,  who  only 
awaited  the  cessation  of  the  fire  froni  the  fort  to  commence  their  fierce  and 
impetuous  attack.  That  tliat  fire  could  not  long  be  sustained  was  evident, 
since  ammunition  could  ill  be  spared  lui-  ilir  i,iv.cnt  imriicimt  purpose,  where 
supplies  of  all  kinds  were  so  diiticult  lo  I;-  oh;  lin  d  ;  ;,iiiK  if  he  should  attempt 
a  retreat,  the  upright  position  of  Iiis  I'x n  caiki-  ■>[  {'„■•)]]  \n  tiie  risk  of  being 
swept  away  by  the  poml-roi!.;  iii"t;i!.  !'n:u  :i  I  ready  fanned  their  cheeks  with 
the  air  it  so  rapidly  dividt  •!.  Su'l'!i'i!l\ .  liowrver.  the  fire  from  the  batteries 
was  discontinued,  nnd  llii>  ue  knew  to  be  a  ;-ignal  for  himself.  He  gave  an 
order  in  a  low  voice.  :nii!  ;!ie  detachment  quitted  their  recumbent  and  defen- 
sive position,  still  rini;ii':iir.'  formed  in  square.  At  the  same  inst?ait  a  gun 
flashed  fioui  tl^e  f'lil  :  1  ii  not  a^  before  was  heard  the  rushing  sound  of  the 
destructive  sIioL  i  r::-irii!_r  ilie  (I'ei  -  in  iu  resistless  course.  The  Indians  took 
courage  at  tliis  cii-.-iiii.^tiinee.  for  tliey  deemed  the  bullets  of  their  enemies 
Avere  expended  ;  and  tliut  they  were  merely  discharging  their  powder  to  keep 
up  the  apprehension  originally  produced.  Again  they  showed  themselves. 
like  so  many  demons,  from  behind  their  lurking  places  ;  and  yells  and  shouts 
of  the  most  terrific  and  threatening  character  once  more  rent  the  air,  and 
echoed  through  the  woods.  Their  cries  of  anticipated  triumph  were,  however, 
of  short  duration.  Presently,  a  hissing  noise  was  heard  m  the  air  ;  and  close 
to  the  bomb-proof,  and  at  the  very  skirt  of  the  forest,  they  beheld  a  huge 
globe  of  iron  fall  perpendicularly  to  the  earth,  to  the  outer  part  of  which  was 
attached  what  they  supposed  to  be  a  reed,  that  spat  forth  innumerable  sparks 
of  fire,  without  however,  seeming  to  threaten  the  slightest  injury.  Attracted 
by  the  novel  siglit,  a  dozen  warriors  sprang  to  the  spot,  and  fastened  their 
gaze  upon  it  with  all  the  childish  wonder  and  curiosity  of  men  in  a  savage 
state.  One,  more  eager  and  restless  than  his  fellows,  stooped  over  it  to  feel 
with  his  hand  of  wliat  it  was  composed.  At  that  moment  it  burst,  and  limbs, 
and  he:eis.  and  entrails,  were  seen  living  in  the  air.  with  the  fragments  of  the 
shell,  mill  prostrate  and  strugc'ling  fornis  la}-  A^-ritlung  on  every  hand  in  the 
last,  fierce  agonies  of  de;ith. 

A  yejl  of  despair  and  a  shout  of  triumph  burst  at  the  same  moment  from 
the  adverse  parties.  Talxin'!-  a.lvr.ntage  of  the  terror  produced,  by  this  catas- 
trophe, in  the  savages,  ( '.i;i:iiii  i\:-kine  cau.sed  the  men  bearmg  the  corpse  to 
retreat,  with  all  possiM-  e:].  elition,  inider  the  ramparts  of  the  fort.  He 
waited  imtil  they  'iot  n  ■  >  iuiii  way.  and  then  threw  forward  the  wheeling 
sections,  that  h.id  i  >  ,  ,,  d  iiiis  movement,  once  more  into  single  file,  in  which 
order  he  comraem-eil  )ii  ,  lelreat.  Step  by  step,  and  almost  imperceptibly,  the 
men  paced  backwards,  ready,  at  a  moment's  notice,  to  re-form  the  square. 
Partly  recovering  from  the  terror  and  siu-prise  produced  by  the  bursting  of 
the  shell,  the  Indians  were  quick  in  perceiving  this  movement :  tilled  \<^th  rage 
at  h.aring  been  so  long  balked  of  tlieir  aim,  they  tln-ew  themselves  once  more 
impetuously  from  their  cover ;  and,  with  .-.linmlating  veils,  at  length  opened 
their  fire.  Several  of  Captain  Erslciue's  men  w^^va  wounded  \)y  this  tUscharge  ; 
when,  again,  and  furiously  the  cannon  opened  from  the  fort.  It  was  then 
that  the  superiority  of  the  artillery  was  made  manifest.  Both  right  and  left 
of  the  retreating  files  the  ponderous  shot  Hew  heavily  past,  carrying  death 
and  terror  to  the  Indians :  while  not  a  man  of  those  who  intervened  was 
scathed  or  touched  in  its  progress.  The  warriors  in  the  forest  were  once 
more  compelled  to  shelter  themselves  behind  the  trees;  but  in  the  bomb-proof, 
where  they  were  more  secure,  tliey  wei-e  also  more  bold.  From  this  a  galling 
fire,  mingled  vjith  the  most  hideous  yells,  was  now  kept  up  :  and  the  detach- 
ment, in  tlieir  slow  retreat,  suftered  considerably.  Several  men  had  been  kill- 
ed; and.  nhont  twen.ty.  including  Lieutenant  Johnstone,  wounded,  when  again 


30  W  A  C  O  I)  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      PROPHECY. 

one  of  those  mnrdcrous  ;;lob(,'S  fell,  hissino:  in  the  very  centre  of  the  bomb- 
proof. In  an  instant,  the  Indian  tire  wa.s  discontinued ;  and  their  dark  and 
pliant  foi-ni.s  were  seen  hurrying  with  almost  incredible  rapidity  over  the  di- 
lapidated n-alls.  and  flying  into  the  very  heart  of  the  forest,  so  that  when  the 
shell  exploded,  a  few  seconds  afterwards,  not  a  warrior  was  to  be  seen.  From 
this  moment  the  attack  was  not  renewed,  and  Captain  Erskine  made  good  his 
retreat  without  further  molestation. 

"  Well,  old  buffers  !"  exclaimed  one  of  the  leading  files,  as  the  detachment, 
preceded  by  its  dead  and  wounded,  now  moved  along  the  moat  in  the  direction 
of  the  draw-bridge,  "  hoM^  did  you  like  the  grip  of  them  red  savages  ? — I 
say.  Mitchell,  old  Nick  -will  scarcely  know  the  iace  of  you,  it's  so  much  alter- 
ed by  fright.  Did  j-ou  see,"  turning  to  the  man  in  his  rear,  "  how*  harum- 
scarum  he  looked,  when  the  captain  called  out  to  him  to  come  off?" 

•'  Hold  your  clapper,  you  spooney,  and  be  d d  to  you  !"  exclaimed  the 

angry  veteran.  -  Had  the  Ingian  fastened  his  paw  on  your  ugly  neck  as  he 
did  upon  mine,  all  the  pitiful  life  your  mother  put  into  you  woidVl  have  been 
spirited  away  from  very  fear  ;  so  you  needn't  brag  !" 

■'  Sure,  and  if  any  of  ye  had  a  grain  of  spunk,  ye  would  have  fired,  and 
freed  a  fellow  from  the  clutch  of  them  Ingin  thieves,"  muttered  another  of 
the  men  at  the  litter.  "  All  the  time  the  devil  had  me  by  the  throat,  swing- 
ing his  tomrayhawk  about  my  head,  I  saw  ye  dancing  up  and  down  in  the 
heavens,  instead  of  being  on  yoiu-  marrow  bones  on  the  common." 

•'  And  didn't  I  want  to  do  it  ?"  rejoined  the  first  speaker.  "  Ask  Tom 
Winkler  heie,  if  the  captain  didn't  swear  he'd  cut  ndy  head  off  if  I  even  offer- 
ed so  much  as  to  touch  the  trigger  of  my  musket." 

"  Faith,  and  lucky  he  did,"  replied  his  covering  man,  (for  the  ranks  had 
again  joined),  "  since  but  for  that,  there  wouldn't  be  at  this  moment  so  much 
as  a  hair  of  the  scalp  of  one  you  left." 

"  Bj'  gracious,"  said  a  good-humored,  quaint  looking  Iri.shman,  who  had 
been  fixing  his  eyes  on  the  litter  during  this  colloquy  ;  "  it  sames  to  me,  iuy 
boys,  that  ye  have  caught  the  wrong  cow  by  the  horns,  and  that  all  your 
pains  has  been  for  nothing  at  all.  at  all.  By  the  pope,  ye  are  all  wrong;  it's 
like  bringing  salt  butter  to  Cork,  or  coals  to  your  Newcastle,  as  j^e  call  it. 
Who  the  divil  ever  heard  of  the  oflicer  wearing  ammunition  shoes  ?" 

The  men  all  turned  their  gaze  on  that  part  of  the  vestment  of  the  coi'pse 
to  which  their  attention  had  been  directed  by  this  remark,  when  it  was  at' 
once  perceived,  although  it  had  hitherto  escaped  the  observation  even  of  thfe 
officers,  that,  not  only  the  shoes  were  those  usually  worn  by  the  soldiers,  anflt 
termed  ammunition  or  store  shoes,  but  also,  the  trowsers  were  of  the  descrip 
tion  of  coarse  grey,  peculiar  to  that  class. 

•'  By  the  piper  and  ye're  right,  Dick  Doherty,"  exclaimed  another  Irish- 
man ;  •'  sure,  and  it  isn't  the  officer  at  all !  Just  look  at  the  great  black  fist 
of  him  too,  and  never  call  me  Phil  Sheban,  if  it  ever  was  made  for  the  hand- 
ling of  an  oflicer's  spit." 

"  What  a  set  of  hignoramuses  ye  must  be."  grunted  old  Mitchell,  "  not  to 
see  that  the  captain's  hand  is  only  covered  with  dirt ;  and  as  for  the  ammu- 
nition shoes  and  trowsers,  why  you  know  your  officers  wear  anytliing  since 
we  have  been  cooped  up  in  this  here  fort." 

"  Yes,  by  the  holy  poker,  off"  duty,  if  they  like  it,"  returned  Phil  Sheban  ; 
"  but  it  isn't  even  the  colonel's  own  born  son  that  dare  to  do  so  while  officer 
of  the  guard." 

At  this  point  of  their  conversation,  one  of  the  leading  men  at  the  litter,  in 
turning  to  look  at  its  subject,  stumbled  over  the  root  of  a  stump  that  lay  in 
his  way,  and  fell  violently  forward.  The  sudden  action  desti'oyed  the  eqmli- 
brium  of  the  corpse,  ^^',hich  rolled  oft"  its  temporary  bier  upon  the  earth,  and 
disclosed,  for  the  first  time,  a  face  begrimed  with  masses  of  clotted  blood, 
which  had  streamed  forth  fiom  the  sclaped  brain  during  the  night. 

••  It's  the  divil  himself,"  said  Phil  Sheban.  making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  half 


W  A  C  O  XI  S  T  A  :      OR,     T  H   K      P  R  n  P  H   E  t;  Y  .  31 

in  jest,  ludf  in  oarnost :   "  for  it  isn't  tlic  captain  at  all.  and  who  bnt  tlio  dW\l 
could  havo  manuiivd  to  dap  on  his  ri-rinientals '?" 

•'  No.  it's  an  Ingian,"  remarked  Dick  Bnrford,  sagaciously  ;  "  it's  an  Indian 
that  has  killed  the  captain,  and  dressed  himsell'  in  his  clothes.  I  thought  he 
smelt  strong,  when  I  helped  to  pick  him  up." 

'•  What  a  set  of  prating  fools  ye  are,"  interrupted  the  leading  ."^crgeant ; 
"  who  ever  saw  an  Tngian  with  light  hair  ?  and  sure  this  hair  in  the  neck  is 
that  of  a  Christian." 

At  that  moment  Captain  Erskine,  attracted  by  the  sudden  halt  produced 
by  the  fiiUing  of  the  body,  came  quickly  up  to  the  front. 

"  What  is"  the  meaning  of  all  this,  Cassidy  ?"  he  sternly  dcTnanded  of  the 
sergeant ;  '•  why  is  tliis  halt  without  my  orders,  and  how  comes  the  body 
here  ?" 

"  Carter  stumbled  agamst  a  root.  sii-.  and  the  body  rolled  over  upon  the 
ground." 

*'AikI  was  the  body  to  roll  back  again?"  angrih^  rejoined  his  captain. 
"  What  mean  ye.  fellows,  by  standing  there ;  quick,  replace  it  upon  the  litter. 
and  mind  this  does  not  occur  again." 

''  They  say,  sir-,"  said  the  sergeant,  respectfully,  as  the  men  proceeded  to 
their  duty,  "  that  it  is  not  Captain  de  ttaldimar  after  all,  but  an  Ingian." 

"  Not  Captain  de  Haldimar  !  are  ye  all  mad  1  and  have  the  Intlians.  in  re- 
alit}'.  tm-ned  your  brains  with  fear  ?" 

What,  however,  was  his  own  surprise;  and  that  of  Lieutenant  Johnstone, 
when,  on  a  closer  examination  of  the  corpse,  which  the  men  had  now  placed 
with  its  face  uppermost,  they  discovered  the  bewildering  fact  that  it  was  not. 
indeed,  Captain  de  Haldimar  who  lay  before  them,  but  a  stranger,  dressed  in 
the  uniform  of  that  officer. 

There  was  no  time  to  solve,  or  even  to  dwell  on  the  singular  mystery  ;  for 
the  Indians,  though  now  retired,  might  be  expected  to  rally  and  renew  the 
attack.  Once  more,  therefore,  the  detachment  moved  forward  ;  the  officers 
dropping  as  before  to  the  rear,  to  watch  any  movements  of  the  enemy  should 
he  re-appear.  Nothin.'i'.  liowcvei-.  oi'i-urred  to  interrupt  their  march  ;  and  in 
a  few  minutes  the  heavy  flaiikinL;-  o\'  the  cliains  of  the  drawbridge,  as  it  was 
again  raised  by  its  strong  pulleys,  and  the  dull  creaking  sound  of  the  rusty 
bolts  and  locks  that  secured  the  pondei-ous  gate,  announced  the  detachment 
was  once  more  safely  within  the  t^ort. 

While  the  wounded  men  were  being  conveyed  to  the  hospital,  a  group, 
comprising  almost  all  the  officers  of  tlie  garrison,  hastened  to  meet  Captain 
Erskine  and  Lieutenant  Johnstone.  Congratulations  on  the  escape  of  the 
one,  and  compliments,  rather  than  condolences,  on  the  accident  of  the  otlier. 
wliich  the  arm  eti  echarpe  denoted  to  be  slight,  were  hastily  and  warmlv 
profl'ered.  These  fehcitations  were  the  genuine  ebullitions  of  the  hearts  of 
men  who  really  felt  a  pride,  unmixed  with  jealousy,  in  the  conduct  of  their 
fellows ;  and  so  cool  and  excellent  had  been  the  manner  in  which  Captain 
Erskine  had  accomjilished  his  object,  that  it  had  claimed  the  undivided  ad- 
miration of  all  who  had  been  spectators  of  the  afTair,  and  had.  with  the  aid 
of  their  telescopes,  been  enabled  to  follow  the  minutest  movements  of  the  de- 
tachment. 

••  By  heaven  !"  he  at  length  replied,  his  chest  swelling  with  gratified  pride 
at  the  warm  and  generous  approval  of  his  companions  ;  '•'  this  more  than  re- 
pays me  for  every  risk.  Yet,  to  be  sincere,  the  credit  is  not  mine,  but  Went- 
worth's.  But  for  you,  my  dear  fellow,"  gi-asping  and  shaking  the  hand  of 
that  oflScer,  ■•  we  should  have  rendered  but  a  Flemish  account  of  ourselves. 
How  beautifully  those  guns  covered  our  retreat !  and  the  first  mortar  that 
sent  the  howling  devils  flying  in  air  like  so  many  Will-o'the-wi.sps.  who  placed 
that.  Wentwortii  ?" 

••  t  did."  replied  the  oflScer,  with  a  quickness  tliat  denoted  a  natural  feeling 
of  exidtation  ;  '"but  Bombardier  Kitson's  was  the  most  effective.     It  was  his 


32  W  A  C  O  U  S  X  A  ;      OR,     T  H  K      I'  Xi  O  !•  II  E  C  Y  . 

shell  that  drove  the  Indians  fimiiiy  out  of  the  bomb-proof^  and  left  the  coast 
clear  for  your  retreat." 

'•  Then  Kitson,  and  his  gunners  also,  merit  our  best  thanks,"  pursued 
Caj)tain  Erskine,  whose  spirits,  now  that  liis  detachment  was  in  safet}-^  were 
more  than  usually  exhilarated  by  the  exciting  events  of  the  last  hour ;  "  and 
what  will  be  more  acceptable,  perhaps,  they  shall  each  have  a  glass  of  my 
best  old  Jamaica  before  they  sleep, — and  such  stuff  is  not  to  be  met  with 
every  day  in  this  wilderness  of  a  country.  But,  confound  my  stupid  head  ! 
where  arc  Charles  de  Haldimar  and  Sir  Everard  Valletort  ?" 

"  Poor  Charles  is  in  a  high  fever,  and  confined  to  his  bed."  remarked 
Captain  Blessington,  who  now  came  up,  adding  his  congratulations  in  a  low 
tone,  that  marked  the  despondencj'  of  his  heart ;  '■'  and  Sir  Everard  1  have 
just  left  on  the  rampart  with  the  company,  loolcing.  as  he  well  may.  tlie  very 
image  of  despair." 

'■  Run  to  them,  Sumncrs,  my  dear  boy,"  said  Erskine,  hastily  addressing 
himself  to  a  young  ensign  who  stood  near  him ;  ''■  run  quickly,  and  reliege 
them  of  their  error.  Say  it  is  not  De  Haldimar  who  has  been  Idiled,  therefore 
they  need  not  make  themselves  any  longer  uneasy  on  that  score."  The  offi- 
oeis  .:i  I  .t  ;  !■!  of  surprise.  Sumners,  however,  hastened  to  acquit  himself 
of  iK  ;  :  '  :  -  iisk  assigned  him,  without  waiting  to  hear  the  explanation  of 
the  ;■ :  ■  ::ii;i.  U'  -iaration. 

'•  ;\'ot  l)e  ILildimar  !"  eagerly  and  anxiously  exclaimed  Captain  Blessing- 
ton  ;  '•  who  then  have  j-ou  brought  to  us  in  his  uniform,  which  I  clearly  dis- 
tinguished from  the  rampart  as  you  passed  ?  Surely  you  Avould  not  tamper 
witli  us  at  ST!ch,  a  moment,  Erskine?" 

"  Who  it  is,  I  know  no  more  than  Adam."  rejoined  the  other ;  •'  imless,  in- 
deed, it  be  the  devil  himself.  All  I  do  know,  is,  it  is  not  our  friend  De  Haldi- 
mar ;  although,  as  you  observe,  he  most  certainly  wears  his  uniform.  But 
you  shall  see  and  judge  for  yourselves,  gentlemen.  Sergeant  Cassid3^"  he  in- 
quired of  that  in(iividual.  who  now  came  to  ask  if  the  detachment  was  to  be 
(lismirjsed,  '"  v/here  have  you  placed  the  litter  ?" 

'•  Under  the  piazza  of  tiie  guard-room,  sir."  answered  the  seargent.  The.se 
•words  liad  scareoly  beon  liilcr'd,  wlic;!  n  :^:  in  r;il  ;ut1  hasty  movement  of  the 
officers,  anxious  to  salisly  llivMi-"lves  hy  ]>  ■i-crd  .^''-sTvation  it  was  not  in- 
deed De  Haldimar  who  liad  ialkn.  look  place  in  the  direction  alluded  to,  and 
in  the  next  moment  they  were  at  the  side  of  the  litter. 

A  blanket  had  been  thrown  upon  the  corp.se  to  conceal  the  loathsome  dis- 
figurement of  the  face,  ovei-  which  masses  of  thick  coagulated  blood  were  laid 
in  patches  and  streaks,  that  set  all  recognition  at  defiance.  The  formation  of 
the  head  alone,  which  was  round  and  .short,  denoted  it  to  be  not  De  Haldi- 
mar's.  Not  a  feature  was  left  xindefiled  ;  and  even  the  eyes  were  so  covered, 
it  was  impossible  to  say  whether  their  lids  were  closed  or  open.  More  than 
one  officer's  cheek  paled  with  the  sickness  that  rose  to  his  heart  as  he  gazetl 
on  the  hideous  spectacle ;  yet  as  the  curiosity  of  all  was  stronly  excited  to 
know  who  the  nuirdcrcd  man  really  was  who  had  been  so  unaccountably  in- 
ducted in  the  uniform  of  their  lost  companion,  they  were  resolved  to  satisfy 
themselves  without  further  delay.  A  basin  of  warm  water  and  a  sponge  were 
procured  from  the  guard-room"  of  Ensign  Fortescue,  who  now  joined  them, 
and  with  these  Captain  Blessington  proceeded  to  remove  the  disguise. 

In  the  course  of  this  lavation,  it  was  discovered  the  extraordinary  flow  of 
blood  and  brains  had  been  jiroduced  by  the  infliction  of  a  deep  wound  on  the 
back  of  the  head,  by  the  sharp  and  ponderous  tomahawk  of  an  Indian.  It 
was  the  only  b'ow  that  had  been  given  ;  and  the  circumstance  of  the  decea.sed 
having  been"  found  lying  on  his  face,  accounted  for  the  quantity  of  gore,  ihat, 
trickling  downwards,  had  so  completely  disguised  every  feature.  As  the  coat 
of  thick  encru.sted  matter  gave  way  beneath  the  frequent  application  of  the 
moistening  sponge,  the  palfid  hue  of  the  countenance  denoted  the  murdered 
man  to  be  a  white.     All  doubt,  however,  was  soon  at  an  end.     The  ammuni- 


\v  A  c  o  D  »  T  A  ;     o  i:  ,    T  ii  i;    i'  ii  o  p  u  i;  c  \  .  33 

tion  shors,  tlu;  grey  trowsers,  the  coarse  linen,  unci  the  stilV  leathern  stock  en- 
circling the  nock,  attested  the  sulferer  to  be  ii  soldier  of  the  garrison  ;  but  it 
was  not  until  the  face  had  been  completely  denuded  of  its  unsightly  covering, 
and  every  feature  fully  exposed,  that  that  soldier  was  at  length  recognized  to 
be  Harry  Donellan,  the  trust}^  and  attached  servant  of  Captain  de  Ilaldimar. 

AVhile  yet  the  officci-s  stood  apart,  gazing  at  the  corpse,  and  forming  a 
varictj- of  conjectures,  as  vauuf  ;is  I  Ik  y  were  unsatisfactory,  in  regard  to  their 
new  mj'stery,  Sir  Everard  \  .illcioi  t.  pale  and  breathless  with  the  speed  he 
had  used,  suddenly  appcarc(l  iimunn  Uiera. 

"  God  of  heaven  !  can  it  be  true — t'.nd  is  it  really  not  De  Haldimar  whom  I 
have  shot '?"  wildly  asked  the  agitated  yoking  man.  "  Who  is  this,  Erskine  ?" 
he  continued,  glancing  at  the  litter.    ''  Explam,  for  pity  sake,  and  quickly." 

•'  Compose  yourself,  my  dear  Valletort,"  replied  the  oflicer  addressed. 
'•  You  see  this  is  not  De  Haldimar,  but  his  servant  Donellan.  Neither  has  the 
latter  met  his  death  from  your  rillc ;  there  is  no  mark  of  a  bullet  about  him. 
It  was  an  Indian  tomahawk  that  did  his  business;  and  I  will  stake  my  head 
against  a  liickory  nut  the  blow  came  from  the  same  rascal  at  whom  you  fired, 
and  who  g^ive  back  the  shot  and  the  scalp  halloo." 

This  opinion  was  unanimously  expressed  by  the  remainder  of  the  officers. 
Sir  Everard  was  almost  as  much  overpowered  with  his  jo)^,  as  he  had  pre- 
viously been  overwhelmed  by  his  dispair,  and  he  grasped  and  shook  the  hand 
of  Captain  Erskine,  who  had  thus  been  the  means  of  relieving  his  conscience, 
with  an  energy  of  gratitude  and  feeling  that  almost  drew  tears  from  the  eyes 
of  that  blunt  but  gallant  officer. 

'•  Thank  God  !  thank  God  !"  he  fervently  exclaimed  :  "  I  have  not  then  even 
the  death  of  poor  Donellan  to  answer  for ;"  and  hastening  from  the  guard- 
room, he  pursued  liis  course  hurriedly  and  delightedly  to  the  barrack-room  of 
his  friend. 


CHAPTER   V. 

The  hour  fixed  for  the  trial  of  the  prisoner  Hallo  way  had  now  arrived,  and 
the  officers  composing  the  court  were  all  met  in  the  mess-room  of  the  garri- 
son, surrounding  a  long  green  table  covered  with  green  cloth,  over  which  were 
distributed  pens,  ink,  and  paper  for  taking  minutes  of  the  evidence,  and  such 
notes  of  the  proceedings  as  the  several  members  might  deem  necessary  in  the 
course  of  the  trial.  Captain  Blessington  presided ;  and  next  him,  on  either 
hand,  were  the  first  in  seniority,  the  two  junior  occupjang  the  lowest  places. 
The  demeanor  of  the  several  officers,  serious  and  befitting  the  duty  they  were 
met  to  perform,  was  rendered  more  especially  solemn  from  the  presence  of  the 
governor,  who  sitting  a  little  to  the  right  of  the  president,  and  without  the  circle, 
remained  covered  with  his  arms  folded  across  his  chest.  At  a  signal  given  by 
the  president  to  the  orderly  in  waiting,  that  individual  disappeared  from  the 
room,  and  soon  afterwards  Frank  Halloway,  strongly  ironed,  as  on  the  pre- 
ceding night,  was  ushered  in  by  several  files  of  the  guard,  under  Ensign 
Fortescue  himself. 

The  prisoner  having  been  stationed  a  few  paces  on  the  left  of  the  president, 
that  officer  stood  up  to  administer  the  customary  oath.  His  example  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  rest  of  the  court,  who  now  rose,  and  extending  each  his  right 
hand  upon  the  prayer  book,  repeated,  after  the  president,  the  form  of  words 
prescribed  by  military  law.  They  then,  after  successively  touching  the  sacred 
volume  with  their  lips,  once  more  resumed  their  seats  at  the  table. 

The   prosecutor  was  the  ^Vdjutant  Lawson,  who  now  handed  over  to  the 
I  president  a  paper,  froin  whicli  the  latter  officer  read,  in  a  clear  and  distinct 
voice,  the  following  charires.  viz. — 
3 


34      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

"  1st.  For  having  on  the  night  of  the  — th  September.  17G3,  while  on  duty 
at  tlie  gate  of  ^e  Fortress  of  Detroit,  either  admitted  a  stranger  into  the 
gan-ison  himself,  or  suffered  him  to  obtain  admission,  without  giving  the 
alarm,  or  using  the  means  necessary  to  ensure  his  apprehension,  such  conduct 
being  treasonable,  and  in  breach  of  the  articles  of  war. 

"2d.  For  having  been  accessor}^  to  the  abduction  of  Captain  Frederick  de 
Haldimar  and  private  Harry  Donellan.  the  disappearance  of  whom  from  the 
ganison  can  only  be  attributed  to  a  secret  understanding  existing  between  the 
prisoner  and  the  enemy  without  the  walls,  such  conduct  being  treasonable,  and 
in  breach  of  the  articles  of  war." 

"  Private  Frank  Halloway."  continued  Captain  Blessington,  after  having 
read  these  two  short  but  important  charges,  "  you  have  heard  what  has 
been  preferred  against  you  ;  what  say  you,  therefore  ?  Are  you  guilty,  or 
not  guilty  ?" 

"  Not  guilty,"  firmly  and  somewhat  exultingly  replied  the  prisoner,  laying 
his  hand  at  the  same  time  on  his  swelling  heart. 

"  Stay,  sir,"  sternly  observed  the  governor,  addressing  the  president ;  you 
have  not  read  all  the  charges." 

Captain  Blessington  took  up  the  paper  from  the  table,  on  which  he  had 
carelessly  thrown  it,  after  reading  the  accusations  above  detailed,  and  perceived, 
for  the  first  time,  that  a  portion  had  been  doubled  back.  His  eye  now 
glanced  over  a  third  charge,  which  had  previously  escaped  his  attention. 

"  Prisoner,"  he  pursued,  after  the  lapse  of  a  minute.  "  there  is  a  third 
charge  against  you,  viz.  for  having,  on  the  night  of  the  — th  Sept.  1763.  suf- 
fered Captain  de  Haldimar  to  unclose  the  gate  of  the  fortress,  and  accompa- 
nied by  his  servant,  private  Harry  Donellan,  to  pass  your  post  without  the 
sanction  of  the  governor,  such  conduct  being  in  direct  violation  of  a  standing 
order  of  the  garrison,  and  punishable  with  death." 

The  prisoner  started.  ■'  What !"  he  exclaimed,  his  cheek  paling  for  the  first 
time  with  momentary  apprehension  ;  "  is  this  voluntary  confession  of  my  own 
to  be  turned  into  a  charge  that  threatens  my  life  ?  Colonel  de.  Haldimar,  is 
the  explanation  which  I  gave  you  onl}^  this  very  hour,  and  in  private,  to  be 
made  the  public  instrument  of  my  condemnation  ?  Am  I  to  die  because  I 
had  not  firmness  to  resist  the  prayer  of  vaj  captain  and  of  your  son,  Colonel 
de  Haldimar  ?" 

The  president  looked  towards  the  governor,  but  a  significant  motion  of  the 
head  was  the  only  reply  ;  he  proceeded, — 

"  Piisoner  Halloway,  what  plead  j^ou  to  this  char<re '?  Guiltv,  or  not 
guilty?" 

•'  I  see  plainly,"  said  Halloway,  after  the  pause  of  a  minute,  during  which 
he  appeared  to  be  summoning  ail  liis  energies  to  his  aid  ;  "  I  see  plainlj^  that 
it  is  useless  to  strive  against  m_y  fate.  Captain  de  Haldimar  is  not  here,  and 
I  must  die.  Still  I  shall  not  have  the  disgrace  of  dying  as  a  traitor,  though 
I  own  I  have  violated  the  orders  of  the  garrison." 

"  Prisoner,"  interrupted  Captain  Blessington,  "  whatever  you  may  have  to 
urge,  you  had  better  reserve  for  your  defence.  Meanwhile,  what  answer  do 
you  make  to  the  last  charge  preferred  ? — Are  yon  guilty,  or  not  guilty  ?" 

'•  Gruilty."  said  Halloway,  in  a  tone  of  mingled  pride  and  sorrow,  ''  guilty 
of  having  listened  to  the  earnest  prayer  of  \x\j  captain,  and  suffered  him,  in 
violation  of  ray  orders,  to  pass  my  post.  Of  the  other  charges  I  am  innocent." 
The  court  listened  with  the  most  profound  attention  and  interest  to  the 
words  of  the  prisoner,  and  they  glanced  at  each  other  in  a  manner  that  marked 
their  sense  of  the  truth  they  attached  to  his  delaration. 

"  Halloway,  prisoner."  resum.ed  Captain  Blessington,  mildly,  yet  impress- 
ively ;  recollect  the  severe  penal^Xjfiy-l^  the  third  charge,  no  less  than  the 
others,  entails,  and  recall  your  admissidn.     Be  advised  by  me,"  he  pursued, 
observing  his  hesitation.     ■■  Withdraw  yoiu-  plea,  then,  and  substitute  that  of  , 
not  guilty  to  the  whole." 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.       SS- 

"  Captain  Blos.<5inp,-toii,"  rcturn«l  tlie  prisoner  with  deep  emotion.  "  I  fee? 
all  the  kindness  ot'  vonr  motive ;  and  if  anytliint;;  ean  console  me  in  mj  pre- 
sent situation,  it  is  the  circninstance  of  liaving  presiding-  at  my  trial  an  oftitser 
so  tuiiversally  beloved  by  the  whole  corps.  Still,"  and  again  his  voice  asrv- 
qnircil  its  wonted  firmness,  and  his  cheek  glowed  with  honest  pride,  "  stili.  f 
scorit  to  retract  my  words.  Of  the  two  first  charges  I  am  as  innocent  as  t&iE- 
babe  imborn.  To  the  last  I  plead  guilty ;  and  vain  would  it  be  to  say  other- 
wise, since  the  gate  was  found  open  while  I  was  on  duty,  and  I  know  t&e 
penalt}'^  attached  to  the  disobedience  of  orders." 

After  some  further  but  ineffectual  reiaonstrances  on  the  part  of  the  presi- 
dent, the  pleas  of  the  prisoner  v/ere  recorded,  and  the  examination  commentT^^L, 
Governor  de  Haldimar  was  the  lirst  witness. 

That  officer,  having  been  sworn,  stated,  that  on  the  preceding  night  ho  fesucJ 
been  intruded  ufwu  in  his  apartment  bj^  a  strant;er,  who  could  have  obtaa-noti 
admission  only  through  the  gat"  of  the  foj-lrc-s.  hy  \\iiicli  also  he  must  humi- 
made  good  his  escape.  That  ii  \\  .ms  c  i:';-!!^  tii''  ;;;  i-MDcv  li-d  been  in  corres-- 
pondence  with  their  enemies  ;  m-.i  ■  •.  (  :i  jn  ■,  -  'i;  -  i-,  rx-mine  the  gate  it  had. 
been  found  unlocked,  while  the  conltisiou  !u;,ii'l  :;c!  isy  iiim  on  being  accuse^p. 
satisfied  all  who  were  present  oi'tli'  ennrni'!\  i'.'  [;is  ^uilt.  Search  had.  Ibeess: 
made  everywhere  for  the  keys,  but  withom  sucf  "ss. 

The  second  charge  was  supported  by  presumptive  evidence  alone  ;  for  al- 
though the  governor  swore  to  the  disappearance  of  his  son.  and  the  mmtfer 
flf  his  servant,  and  dwelt  emphatically  on  tlie  fact  of  their  having  been  fotrat- 
bly  carried  off  with  the  connivance  of  the  jirisoner,  still  there  was  no  oibmr 
proof  of  this,  than  the  deductions  dr;r.\-!i  IVoia  tlie  circumstances  already  4ie- 
tailed.     To  meet  this  difficulty,  however,  the  third  charge  had  been  framed.. 

In  proof  of  this  the  governor  s(:at((!.  ■•  thnr  xIk-  pri.^onei'.  on  being  interr?*- 
gated  by  him  immediately  sulise'iuent  to  his  lieiug  relieved  fi'oiu  Ins  post,  lisii 
evinced  such  confusion  and  hesitation,  as  to  leave  no  donlit  whatever  of  liiE 
guilt ;  that,  influenced  by  the  half  promise  of  connnniication,  which  the  cowrt 
had  heard  as  well  as  himself,  he  had  snffere<l  tiie  trial  of  the  prisoner  to'fe 
delayed  until  the  present  hotir,  strongly  hojiii  -■  in'  mi'.iit  then  be  induced  to 
reveal  the  share  he  had  borne  in  these  uuivn-iiy  ;mi'1  treasonable  practices;- 
that,  with  a  view  to  obtain  this  disclosure.  s;>  essentia!  to  tlie  safety  of  tfe 
garrison,  he  had,  conjointly  v*ith  jMajor  Blackwater,  visited  the  cell  of  tl.«: 
prisoner,  to  whom  he  related  the  fact  of  the  rnirdei-  of  Donellan.  in  the  tli*^ 
guise  of  his  master's  uniform,  conjnrin.;'  hin'  ;•:  lie  sume  time,  if  he  regaMrf 
his  own  life,  and  the  safetj^  of  those  ia'm)  ■  '•:<■-  -  dear  to  him,  to  givs-sa 
clue  to  the  solution  of  this  my.stcrions  c!!'- .  !i-i;m  •  -nd  disclose  the  nata-re^ 
and  extent  of  his  connection  with  the  enemy  ivithout ;  that  the  prisoner  hijWf'^ 
ever  resolutely  denied,  as  before,  the  guilt  imputed  to  him,  but  having  tml 
time  to  concoct  a  plau.sible  story,  stated,  ((loul;fless  v.dth  a  view  to  sMsMri. 
himself  from  the  severe  ptmishment  lie  well  Icnew  to  be  attached  to  his' «f- 
fence,)  that  Captain  de  Haldimar  himself  had  removed  the  keys  from  i^- 
guard-room,  opened  the  gate  of  the  fortress,  and  a((oin|i:;ir(!l  by  his  serysBsK.. 
dressed  in  a  colored  coat,  had  sallied  forth  ujion  IL<'  (  ii-i";i-i.  And  this,  era- 
phatically  ptirsued  the  governor,  the  prisoner  ndiiiii^  he  ]iermitted,  altho'j^ 
well  aware  that,  by  an  order  of  long  standing  for  the  security  of  the  garrisBaa.. 
such  a  flagrant  dereliction  of  his  duty  subjected  him  to  the  pimishmeat.  «(f' 
death.  .  ^-  ^ 

Major  Blackwater  was  the  next  witness  examined.  His  testimony  weiitte' 
prove  the  fitct  of  the  gate  having  been  found  open,  and  the  confusion  msmt-- 
fested  by  the  prisoner.  It  also  substantiated  that  part  of  the  go'venxor^a 
e\ndeDce  on  the  third  charge,  which  related  to  the  confession  recently  maffifei' 
by  Halloway,  on  which  that  charge  had  been  framed.  ^ 

The  sergeant  of  the  guard,  arid  the  governor's  orderly  having  sevcraSjr 
«orroboratcd  the  first  portions  of  ^fajor  Bhvckwator's  evidence,  the  exara^isau- 
tion  ou  the  part  of  the  prosecution  terminated ;  when  the  president  called  «bb. 


"38       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

the  prisoner  Ilalloway  for  his  defence.  The  latter,  in  a  clear,  firm,  and  col 
lectcd  tone,  and  in  terms  that  surprised  his  auditory,  thus  addressed  the 
Court:— 

'■  Mr.  President,  and  gentlemen, — Although  standing  before  you  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  a  private  soldier,  and,  oh  !  bitter  and  humiliating  reflection,  in  that 

•  most  wretched  and  disgraceful  of  all  situations,  a  suspected  traitor,  t  am  not 
indeed  what  I  seem  to  be.  It  is  not  for  me  here  to  enter  into  the  history  of 
mj'  past  life ;  neither  will  I  tarnish  the  hitherto  unsullied  reputation  of  my 
famih'  ])y  disclosing  my  true  name.  Suffice  it  to  observe,  I  am  a  gentleman 
b}'  birth  ;  and  although,  of  late  3'ears.  I  have  known  all  the  hardships  and 
privations  attendant  on  my  fallen  fortunes,  I  was  once  used  to  bask  in  the 
luxuries  of  afiiuence,  and  to  look  upon  those  who  now  preside  in  judgment 
•over  me  as  my  equals.  A  marriage  of  aifection, — a  marriage  with  one  who 
had  notliing  but  her  own  virtues  and  her  own  beauty  to  recommend  her, 
di-ew  upon  me  the  displeasure  of  my  family,  and  the  little  I  possessed,  inde- 
pendently of  the  pleasure  of  my  relations,  was  soon  dissipated.  My  proud 
soul  scorned  all  thought  of  supplication  to  those  who  had  originally  spiu-ned 
my  wife  fi-om  their  presence ;  and  yet  my  heart  bled  for  the  privations  of 

.  her  who.  alike  respectable  in  family,  was,  both  from  sex  and  the  natural  deli- 
cacy of  iiei-  frame,  so  far  less  constituted  to  bear  up  against  the  frowns  of 
adversity  than  myself.     Our  extremity  had  now  become  great, — too  great  for 

•  human  endurance  ;  when,  through  the  medium  of  the  public  prints,  I  became 
acquainted  with  the  glorious  action  that  had  been  fought  in  this  country  by 
the  army  imder  General  AVolfe.  A  new  light  burst  suddenlj^  upon  mj-  mind, 
and  visions  of  after  prosperity  constantly  presented  themselves  to  my  view. 
The  field  of  honor  was  open  before  me,  and  there  was  a  probabilit)-  I  might, 
by  good  conduct,  so  far  merit  the  approbation  of  my  superiors,  as  to  obtain, 
in  course  of  time,  that  rank  among  themselves  to  which  by  birth  and  educa- 
tion I  was  so  justly  entitled  to  aspire.  Without  waiting  to  consult  my  Ellen, 
whose  opposition  t  feared  to  encounter  until  opposition  would  be  fruitless,  I 
hastened  to  Lieutenant  Walgrave,  the  recruiting  officer  of  the  regiment, — 
tendered  my  services, — was  accepted  and  approved, — received  the  bounty  mon- 
ey,— and  became  definitely  a  soldier,  under  the  assumed  name  of  Frank  Hal- 
loway. 

'•  It  would  be  tedious  and  impertinent,  gentlemen,"  resumed  the  prisoner, 
after  a  short  pause,  "to  dwell  on  the  humiliations  of' spirit  to  which  both  mj" 
wife  and  myself  were  subjected  at  our  first  introduction  to  our  new  associ- 

,ates,  who,  although  invariably  kind  to  us,  were  nevertheless  ill  suited,  both 
by  education  and  habit,  to  awaken  anything  like  congeniality  of  feelmg  or 
similarity  of  pursuit.  Still  we  endeavored,  as  much  as  possible,  to  lessen  the 
distance  that  existed  between  us  ;  and  from  the  first  moment  of  oiu-  joining 
the  regiment,  determined  to  adopt  the  phraseology  and  manners  of  those 
with  whom  an  adverse  destinj^  had  so  singularly  connected  us.     In  this  we 

.  succeeded ;  for  no  one,  up  to  the  present  moment,  has  imagined  either  my 
wife  or  myself  to  be  other  than  the  simple,  unpretending  Frank  and  Ellen 
Halloway. 

"  On  joining  the  regiment  in  this  country,"  pursued  the  prisoner,  after  an- 

■  other  pause,  marked  by  much  emotion,  "  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  lie  ap- 
pointed to  the  grenadier  company.  Gentlemen,  you  all  know  the  amiable 
qualities  of  Captain  de  Ilaldimar.  But  although,  unlike  yourselves,  I  have 
learnt  to  admire  that  officer  only  at  a  distance,  m}'  devotion  to  his  interests 
has  ])ecn  proportioned  to  the  kindness  with  which  I  have  ever  been  treated 
by  him ;  and  may  I  not  add,  after  this  avowal  of  my  former  condition,  my 
mo.st  fervent  desire  has  all  along  been  to  seize  the  first  favorable  ojiportunity 
of  performing  some  action  that  would  eventually  elevate  me  to  a  position  in 
which  I  might,  witiiout  blushing  for  the  absence  of  the  ennobling  qualities  of 
birth  and  condition,  avow  myself  his  friend,  and  solicit  that  distinction  from 
jny equal  whidi  vvas  partially  extemled  to  me  by  my  superior?  •  The  oppor- 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      t)  R  ,     T  H  K      PROPHECY.  37' 

tunity  I  sought  was  not  long  wjinting.  At  the  nicnioriiblc  ud'air  witli  the 
French  genei-ul,  Levi,  at  Quebec,  in  whicli  our  regiment  bore  so  conspicuous  a 
part,  I  liad  the  good  fortune  to  save  the  life  of  luy  captain.  A  band  of  Indi- 
ans, as  you  all.  gentlemen,  nnist  recollect,  had  apjjroached  our  right  ilank 
unperceivcd,  and  while  busily  engaged  with  the  French  in  front,  we  were 
oompelled  to  divide  our  fire  between  tliem  and  our  new  and  fierce  assailants. 
The  leader  of  that  band  was  a  Frencli  oilicer,  who  seemed  particidarly  to 
direct  his  attempts  against  the  life  of  Captain  de  Haldimar.  lie  was  a  man- 
of  powerful  proportions  and  gigmitic  stature — '• — " 

••  Hold!"  said  the  governoi-.  sl.-nting  suddeidy  from  the  seat  in  which  he  had' 
listened  with  evident  impati.  me  to  (bis  long  outline  of  the  prisoner's  history. 
"Gentlemen."  addressing  the  cuurl.  "  tli;it  is  the  very  sfjvinger  who  was  in 
my  apiirtiuent  last  niglit. — the  bi'ing  with  wIkiui  tlu'  prisduei-  is  evidently  in 
treacherous  correspondence,  and  all  this  al)snrd  tale  is  Imt  a  blind  to  deceive 
your  judgment,  and  mitigate  his  own  punishment.  Who  is  there  to  prove 
the  man  he  has  just  described  was  the  same  who  aimed  at  Captain  de  Haldi- 
mar's  life  at  Quebec  ?" 

A  Hush  of  deep  indignation  overspread  the  features  of  the  prisoner,  whose 
high  spirit,  now  he  had  avowed  his  true  oi-igin,  could  ill  brook  the  affront 
thus  put  upon  his  veracity. 

"  Colonel  de  IlaMimar  !"  he  proudly  replied,  while  his  cliains  clanked  with 
the  energy  and  force  with  which  lie  drew  up  his  person  into  an  attitude  of 
striking  dignity ;  '"  for  once  I  sink  the  private  soldier,  and  address  you  in  the 
character  of  the  gentleman  and  your  equ.al.  I  have  a  soul,  sir,  notwithstand- 
ing my  fallen  fortunes,  as  keenly  alive  to  honor  as  vom-  own  ;  and  not  even  to  ■ 
save  my  wretched  life,  would  I  be  guilty  of  the  b;i-;('ii<',- <  you  now  attribute 
to  me.  You  have  asked,"  he  pursued,  in  a  nmre  solenin  (one,  "  what  proof  I 
have  to  show  this  individual  to  be  the  same  who  attempted  the  life  of  Captain 
de  Haldimar.  To  Captain  de  Haldimar  himself,  should  Providence  have 
spared  his  days,  I  shall  leave  the  melancholy  task  of  bearing  witness  to  all 
I  here  advance,  when  I  shall  bo  no  more.  Nay,  sir,"  and  his  look  partook 
at  once  of  mingled  scorn  and  despondenc}^,  "  well  do  I  know  the  fate  that 
awaits  me ;  for  in  these  proceedings — in  that  third  charge — I  plainly  read  my 
death-warrant.  But  what,  save  my  poor  and  wretched  wife,  have  I  to  regret? 
Colonel  de  Haldimar."  he  continued,  with  a  vehemence  meant  to  check  the 
growing  weakness  which  the  thought  of  his  unfortunate  companion  called  up 
to  his  heart,  "  I  saved  the  life  of  your  son,  even  b}'  your  own  admission,  no 
matter  who,se  the  arm  that  threatened  his  existence  ;  and  in  ever}^  other  action 
in  which  I  have  been  engaged,  honorable  mention  has  ever  been^  made  of  my 
conduct.  Now,  sir,  I  ask  what  has  been  my  rew^ard  ?  80  far  from  attending 
to  the  repeated  recommendations  of  my  captain  for  promotion,  even  in  a  sub- 
ordinate rank,  have  you  once  deeined  it  necessary  to  acknowledge  my  ser- 
vices by  even  a  recognition  of  them  in  any  way  whatevci-  ?" 

'"  Mr.  President,  Captain  Blessington,"  interrupted  the  governor  haughtily, 
are  we  met  here  to  listen  to  such  language  from  a  private  soldier  ?  You  will 
do  well,  sir,  to  exercise  your  ])rcrogative,  and  stay  such  impertinent  matter, 
which  can  have  no  reference  whatever  to  the  defence  of  the  prisoner." 

"  Prisoner,"  resumed  the  president,  who  as  well  as  the  other  members  of 
the  court,  had  listened  with  the  most  profound  and  absorbing  interest  to  the 
singular  disclosure  of  him  whom  they  still  only  knew  as  Frank  Halloway, 
"  this  language  cannot  be  permitted  ;  you  must  confine  yourself  to  vour' 
defence." 

"  Pardon  me,  gentlemen,"  returned  Halloway,  in  his  usual  firm  but  i«spect- 
ful  tone  of  voice  ;  pardon  me,  if,  standing  on  the  brink  of  the  grave  as  I  do,  I 
have  so  far  forgotten  the  rules  of  military  di.scipline  as  to  sink  for  a  moment 
the  soldier  in  the  gentleman ;  but  to  be  taxed  with  an  unworthy  fobrication,, 
and  to  be  treated  with  contumely  ^vhen  avowing  the  secret  of  my  condition,  . 
was  more  than  human  pride  and  human  feeling  could  tolerate." 


'38  -jv  A  c  o  u  s  T  A  ;    o  n  ,    the    prophecy. 

~  Oonfine  yourself,  prisoner,  to  your  defence.'"  :>p;am  reniarkcil  Captain 
Bl^sington,  percei-sing  tlie  restlessness  with  vrhicli  the  governor  listened  to 
41aese  bold  and  additional  observations  of  Halloway. 

A^ain  the  governor  interposed : — "  What  possible  connection  can  there  be 
IjefcwBen  this  man's  life,  and  the  crime  with  vrhich  he  stands  charged  ? 
Captain  Blessington.  this .  is  trifling  vnth  the  court,  who  are  assembled  to  tr}- 
Mi&  prisoner  for  his  treason,  and  not  to  waste  their  time  in  listening  to  a 
liistory  utterly  foreign  to  the  subject." 

-•'  The  history  of  my  past  life,  Colonel  de  Hardimar,"  proudly  retui-ned  the 
prisoner..'- although  tedious  and  uninteresting  to  you,  is  of  the  utmost  im- 
ptSTtiince  to  jnyself ;  for  on  that  do  I  ground  the  most  essential  part  of  my 
■defence.  There  is  nothing  but  circumstantial  evidence  against  me  on  the  two 
^nst  charges ;  and  as  those  alone  can  reflect  dishonor  on  my  memory,  it  is  for 
"Sj®  wisdom  of  this  court  to  determine  whether  that  evidence  is  to  be  credited 
SB  opposition  to  the  solemn  declaration  of  hmi,  who,  in  admitting  one  charge, 
OfjaaMy  affecting  his  life  Avith  the  others,  repudiates  as  foul  those  only  which 
■wculd  attaint  his  honor.  Gentlemen,"  he  pm-sued,  addressing  the  court,  "  it  is 
Ear  you  to  determine  v.^hether  my  defence  is  to  be  continued  or  not ;  yet,  what- 
i5s-er  be  my  fate,  1  would  fain  remove  all  injurious  impression  from  the  minds 
«f  imj  judges ;  and  this  can  oidj^  be  done  by  a  simple  detail  of  circumstances, 
■wMcii  "may,  by  the  unprejudiced,  be  as  simply  believed." 

Mere  the  prisoner  paused  :  when,  after  some  low  and  earnest  conversation 
ansong  the  members  of  the  court,  two  or  three  slips  of  written  paper  were 
passed  to  the  President.  He  glanced  his  eye  hurriedly  over  them,  and  then 
directed  Halloway  to  proceed  A^-ith  his  defence. 

- 1  have  stated,"  pursued  the  interesting  soldier,  "  that  the  officer  who  led 
iSxi  ba-nd  of  Indians  was  a  man  of  gigantic  stature,  and  of  apparently  great 
iafarength.  My  attention  was  particularly  directed  to  him  from  this  circum- 
stasmce,  and  as  T  was  on  the  extreme  ilank  of  the  grenadiers,  and  close  to 
♦I^tain  de  Haldimar,  I  had  every  oj)portunity  of  observing  his  movements 
pxixicipally  pointed  at  that  officer.  He  first  discharged  a  carbine,  the  ball  of 
-vsiuch  killed  a  man  of  the  company  at  his  (Captain  de  Haldimar's)  side ;  and 
ibeii,  witli  evident  rage  at  having  been  deltated  in  his  aim,  he  took  a  pistol 
foc.Di  his  belt,  and  advancing  with  rapid  strides  to  within  a  few  paces  of  his 
felended  victim,  presented  it  in  the  most  deliberate  manner.  At  that  mo- 
KfCat,  gentlemen,  (and  it  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment,)  a  thousand  confus- 
■eil  and  almost  inexplicable  feelings  I'ose  to  my  heart.  The  occasion  I  had 
forig  sought  Avas  at  length  within  my  reach  ;  but  even  the  personal  consider- 
atons,  which  had  hitherto  influenced  my  mind,  were  smik  in  the  anxious  de- 
•s'kft  I  entci'tained  to  preserve  the  life  of  an  officer  so  universally  beloved,  and 
sie>  every  way  -".vorthy  of  the  sacrifice.  AVhile  j-et  the  pistol  remained  levelled, 
I  sprang  before  Captain  de  Haldimar,  received  the  ball  in  my  breast,  and  had 
jast  strength  sufficient  to  fire  my  musket  at  the  formidable  enemy,  when  I 
jeasRk  sensc-icss  to  the  earth. 

-'  It  will  not  be  difiicult  for  you,  gentlemen,  who  have  feeling  minds,  to  un- 
dwstand  the  pleasurable  pride  with  which,  on  being  conveyed  to  Captain  de 
Maldimar's  own  apartments  in  Queb'ec,  I  found  myself  almost  overwlielmed 
%•  the  touching  marks  of  gratitude  showered  on  me  by  his  relatives.  Miss 
tltera  de  Haldimar,  in  particular,  like  a  ministering  angel,  visited  my  couch  of 
.suffering  almost  every  hour,  and  always  provided  with  some  little  delicacy, 
saiiableto  my  condition,  of  which  I  had  long  since  tutored  myself  to  forget 
^Sf^ecn  the  use.  But  what  principally  afforded  me  pleasure,  was  to  remark  the 
ojmsoljitions  which  she  tendered  to  my  poor  drooping  Ellen,  M-ho,  already  more 
tlisji  half  subdued  by  the  melancholy  change  in  om-  condition  in  life,  fre- 
jqiieutlj'  spent  hours  together  in  silent  grief  at  the  side  of  my  couch,  and 
-Wiitehing  every  change  in  my  countenance  with  all  the  intense  anxiety  of  one 
who  feels  the  last  stay  on  earth  is  about  to  be  severed  for  ever.  yVh !  how  1 
tlien  longed  to  disclose  to  tliis  kind  and  compassionating  being  the  ti'ue  posi- 


\V  A  C  0  U  S  1'  A  ;      OR,     THE      PROPHECY.  39 

tion  of  her  on  whom  she  lavished  her  attention,  and  to  make  her  known  not 
as  the  inferior  honored  by  her  notice,  but  as  the  equal  alike  worthy  of  her 
fi-icndship  and  deserving  of  her  esteem ;  but  the  wide,  wide  barrier  that  di- 
vided the  wife  of  the  private  soldier  from  the  daughter  and  sistei-  of  the 
commissioned  oilicer  sealed  my  lips,  and  our  true  condition  continued  un- 
revealed. 

•'  Gentlemen,"  resumed  Halloway.  after  a  short  pause,  '■  if  I  dwell  on  these 
circumstances,  it  is  with  a  view  to  show  how  vile  are  the  charges  preferred 
ag-ainst  me.  Is  it  likely,  with  all  the  incentives  to  good  conduct  1  have  named, 
I  should  have  proved  a  traitor  to  my  country  ?  And,  even  if  so,  what  to  gjiin, 
I  would  ask ;  and  by  what  means  was  a  correspondence  with  the  eneni)'  to  be 
maintained  by  one  in  my  humble  station  ?  As  for  the  second  charge,  how  in- 
famous, how  injurious  is  it  to  my  reputation,  hov,-  unworth}'  to  be  entertained ! 
From  the  moment  of  my  recoverj^  from  that  severe  wound,  every  mark  of 
favor  that  could  be  bestowed  on  persons  in  our  situation  had  been  extended  to 
my  wife  and  mj'self,  by  the  family  of  Colonel  de  Haldimai  ;  ■,]>'.  i  '  ;;r)tain, 
knowing  me  merely  as  the  simple  and  low  born  Frank   ; '  :  i !  .ough 

stiU  the  preserver  of  his  life,  has  been  unceasing  in  his  exerii-  ;i-  ;  -  •  uusuch 
promotion  as  he  thought  my  conduct  generally,  independently  oi'  i:.y  duvoted- 
ness  to  his  person,  might  claim.  How  these  applications  were  met,  gentlemen, 
I  have  ah-ead}"  stated ;  but  notwithstanding  Colonel  de  Haldimar  has  never 
deemed  me  worth}^  of  the  promotion  solicited,  that  circumstance  could  in  no 
way  weaken  my  regard  and  attachment  for  him  who  had  so  often  demanded 
it.  How  then,  in  the  name  of  heaven,  can  a  charge  so  improbable,  so  extrava- 
gant, as  that  of  haAii^^-  ''.  'n  instrumental  in  the  abduction  of  Cnptain  de  Hal- 
dimar. be  entertaiued  ;  luA  wlu)  is  there  among  you.  gentlemen,  who  will  for 
one  moment  believe  i  could  harbor  a  thought  .>!>  a  .-p  il  .;-  ;!,  ;  .flendingmy- 
self  to  the  destruction  of  one  for  whom  I  one    i  h,    : :  ;  r,p  the'sacri- 

fice  of  my  blood  ?  And  cow,"  pursued  the  pri>.)i!^_r.  a'!  .■  anniivr  short  pause, 
•'  I  come  to  the  third  charge. — that  charge  which  most  affects  my  Ufe.  but  im- 
pugns neither  my  honoi'  nor  my  fidelity.  That  God,  before  who:u  I  know  I 
shaR  shortly  appear,  -ti  a*^"^-  *^  rlie  sincerity  of  my  statement,  and  before  him 
do  I  now  .solemnly  ■  i  am  about  to  relate  is  true. 

'•  Soon  after  the  r.  ,  nt,  of  my  v.-atch  last  night.  I  heard  a  voice  dis- 

tinctly on  the  outside  oi  the  i-a'.npart,  near  my  post,  calling  in  a  low  and  sub- 
dued tone  on  the  name  of  Captain  de  Halthmar.  T:ie  .uceii;.-;,  hasiiiy  and 
anxiously  uttered,  were  apparentl}-  those  of  a  female.  Fiir  a  moment  1  con- 
tinued irresolute  how  to  act,  and  hesitated  whether  or  not  I  should  alarm  the 
garrison  ;  but.  at  length,  presuming  it  v.^as  some  young  female  of  tiic  village 
Avith  whom  my  captain  was  acquainted,  it  occurred  to  nie  'h-  -  ■  7i:-ndent 
course  would  be  to  aiipi-vi- that  officer  himself.   While  i  \.  letlier 

to  leave  mj--  post  for  a  uiDinent  for  the  purpose,  a  man  ( i'--  eade  a 

few  yards  in  my  from  ;  it  was  Captain  de  Haldimar 's  servant,  i/unvikm.  then 
in  the  act  of  camdng  some  -things  from  his  master's  apartment  to  the  guard- 
room. I  called  to  him,  to  say  the  sentinel  at  the  g?.te  wished  to  see  the  cap- 
tain of  the  guard  immediately.  In  the  course  of  a  few  minutes  lie  oamo  up  to 
my  post,  when  I  told  him  what  I  hafi  heard.  At  that  moment,  the  voice 
o^-ain  repeated  his  name,  v,'hen  he  abniptly  left  me -and  turned  to  the  left  of 
the  gate,  evidently  on  his  way  to  the  rampart.  Soon  afterwards  I  heard  Cap- 
tain de  Haldimar  immediately  above  me,  sharply  calling  out  '•  Hist,  hist !'  as  if 
the  person  on  the  outside,  despairing  of  success,  was  in  the  act  of  retreating. 
A«  moment  or  two  of  silence  succeeded,  when  a  low  conversation  ensued  be- 
tween the  parties.  The  distance  was  so  great  I  could  only  diijtinguish  inarti- 
mlate  sounds ;  yet  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  they  spoke  not  in  English,  but  in  the 
language  of  the  Ottawa  Indians,  a  tongue  with  which,  as  you  are  well  aware, 
gentlemen,  Captain  de  Haldimar  is  familiar.  This  had  continued  about  ten 
iuinutes  when  I  again  heard  footsteps  hastily  descending  the  rampart,  and 
vnoviug  in  the  direction  of  the  guard-house.    Soon  afterwards  Captain  de  Hal- 


40  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy. 

dimar  reappeared  at  ray  post,  accompanied  by  his  servant  Donellan ;  tUc 
former  had  the  keys  of  the  gate  in  his  hand,  and  he  told  me  that  he  must  pass 
to  the  skirt  of  the  forest  on  some  business  of  tlie  last  importance  to  the  safety 
of  the  garrison. 

"  At  first  I  peremptorily  refused,  stating  the  severe  penalty  attached  to  the 
infringement  of  an  order,  the  oliservation  of  which  had  so  especially  been  in- 
sisted upon  by  the  governor,  whose  permission,  however,  I  ventured  respect- 
fully to  urge,  might,  without  difficult}\  be  obtained,  if  the  business  was  really 
of  the  importance  he  described  it.  Captain  de  Haldimar.  however,  declared  he 
well  knew  the  governor  would  not  accord  that  permission,  imless  he  was  posi- 
tively acquainted  with  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  danger  to  be  apprehended  ; 
and  of  these,  he  said,  he  was  not  himself  sufficiently  aware.  All  argument  of 
this  nature  proving  ineffectual,  he  attempted  to  enforce  his  authoritj^,  not  only 
in  his  capacity  of  otiicer  of  the  guard,  but  also  as  my  captain,  ordering  me,  on 
pain  of  confinement,  not  to  interfere  with  or  attempt  to  impede  his  departure. 
This,  however,  produced  no  better  result ;  for  I  knew  that,  in  this  instancx;,  I 
was  amenable  to  the  order  of  the  governor  alone,  and  I  again  firmly  refused  to 
violate  my  duty. 

"  Finding  himself  thwarted  in  his  attempt  to  enforce  my  obedience.  Captain 
de  Haldimar,  who  seemed  much  agitated  and  annoyed  by  what  he  termed  my 
obstinacy,  now  descended  to  entreaty ;  and  in  the  name  of  that  life  which  I 
had  preserved  to  him,  and  of  that  deep  gratitude  which  he  had  ever  since 
borne  to  me,  conjured  me  not  to  prevent  his  departure.  '  Hallo  way,'  he  urged, 
'your  life,  my  life,  my  father's  life, — the  life  of  my  sister  Clara  perhaps,  who 
nursed  you  in  illness,  and  who  has  ever  treated  your  wife  with  attention  and 
kindness,  all  these  depend  upon  your  compliance  with  my  request.  Hear  me,' 
he  pursued,  following  up  the  impression  which  he  clearly  perceived  he  had 
produced  in  me  liy  this  singular  and  touching  language :  '  I  promise  to  be  back 
within  the  hour ;  there  is  no  danger  attending  my  departure,  and  here  will  I 
be  before  you  are  relieved  from  your  post ;  no  one  can  know  I  ha^•e  been  ab- 
sent, and  your  secret  will  remain  with  Donellan  and  myself.  Do  you  think,' 
he  concluded,  '  I  would  encourage  a  soldier  of  my  regiment  to  disobey  a  stand- 
ing order  of  the  garrison,  vmless  there  was  some  very  extraordinary  reason  for 
my  so  doing  ?  But  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost  in  parley.  Halloway  !  I  entreat 
you  to  offer  no  further  opposition  to  my  departure.  I  pledge  myself  to  be 
back  before  you  are  relieved.' 

"  Gentlemen,"  impressively  continued  tlie  prisoner,  after  a  pause,  during 
which  every  member  of  the  court  seemed  to  breathe  for  the  first  time,  so 
deeply  had  the  attention  of  all  been  riveted  by  the  latter  part  of  this  singu- 
lar declaration,  "  how,  under  these  circumstances,  could  I  be  expected  to  act  ? 
Assured  by  Captain  (Ic  Haldimar,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  that  the  exis- 
tence of  those  most  dear  to  his  heart  hung  on  my  compliance  with  his  request, 
how  could  I  refuse  to  him,  whose  life  I  had  saved,  and  whose  character  I  so 
much  esteemed,  a  boon  so  carnestlj-,  nay,  so  imploringly  solicited  ?  I  acceded 
to  his  prayei-,  intimating  at  the  sam»  time,  if  he  returned  not  before  another 
sentinel  should  relieve  me,  the  discovery  of  my  breach  of  duty  must  be  made, 
and  my  punishment  inevitable.  His  last  words,  however,  were  to  assure  me 
he  should  return  at  the  hour  he  had  named,  and  when  I  closed  the  gate  upon 
him  it  was  under  the  firm  impression  his  absence  would  only  prove  «f  the 
temporary  nature  he  had  stated.  Gentlemen,"  abruptly  concluded  Halloway, 
"  I  have  nothing  further  to  add ;  if  1  have  failed  in  my  duty  as  a  soldier,  I 
have,  at  least,  fulfilled  that  of  a  man ;  and  although  the  violation  of  the  fir§t 
entails  upon  me  the  punishment  of  death,  the  motives  which  impelled  me  to 
that  violation  will  not,  I  trust,  be  utterly  lost  sight  of  by  those  by  whom  my 
punishment  is  to  be  awarded." 

The  candid,  fearless,  and  manly  tone  in  which  Halloway  had  delivered  this 
long  and  singular  statement,  however  little  the  governor  appeared  to  be  aftccted 
by  it,  evidently  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  court,  who  had  listened  with 


W  A  C  ()  U  S  T  A    ;       OR,     THE      PROPHECY.  41 

undiverted  attention  to  the  close.  Some  conversation  again  ensued,  in  a  low- 
tone,  among  several  members,  when  two  slips  of  written  paper  were  passed 
up,  a.s  before,  to  the  president.     These  excited  the  following  interrogatories : — 

"  You  have  stated,  prisoner,  that  Captain  de  Ilaldimar  left  the  fort  accom- 
panied by  his  servant  Donellan.     IIow  were  they  respectively  dressed  ?" 

"  Captain  de  Haldimar  in  his  uniform ;  Donellan,  as  far  as  I  could  observe, 
in  his  regimcntid  clothing  also,  with  this  difference,  that  he  wore  his  servant's 
round  glazed  hat  and  his  grey  great  coat." 

"  How  then  do  you  account  for  the  extraordinary  circumstance  of  Donellan 
having  been  found  murdered  in  his  master's  clothes  ?  Was  any  allusion 
made  to  a  change  of  dress  before  they  left  the  fort?" 

'•Not  the  slightest,"  returned  the  prisoner  ;  "nor  can  I  in  anyway  account 
for  this  mysterious  fact.  When  they  quitted  the  garrison,  each  wore  the  dress 
I  have  described." 

"  In  what  manner  did  Captain  de  Haldimar  and  Donellan  effect  their  pas- 
sage across  the  ditch  ?"  continued  the  president,  after  glancing  at  the  second 
slip  of  paper.  "  The  draw-bridge  was  evidently  not  lowered,  and  there  were 
no  other  means  at  hand  to  enable  him  to  effect  his  object  with  promptitude. 
IIow  do  you  explain  this,  prisoner  ?" 

When  this  question  was  put,  the  whole  body  of  oflSicers,  and  the  governor 
especially,  turned  their  eyes  simultaneously  on  Halloway,  for  on  his  hesitation 
or  promptness  in  replying  seemed  to  attach  much  of  the  credit  they  were  dis- 
posed to  accord  his  statement.  Halloway  observed  it,  and  colored.  His  re- 
ply, however,  was  free,  unfaltering,  and  unstudied. 

*'  A  rope  with  which  Donellan  had  provided  himself,  was  secured  to  one  of 
the  iron  hooks  that  support  the  pulleys  immediately  above  the  gate.  With 
this  they  swung  themselves  in  succession  to  the  opposite  bank." 

The  members  of  the  court  looked  at  each  other,  apparently  gl9.d  that  an 
answer  so  confirmatory  of  the  truth  of  the  prisoner's  statement  had  been 
thus  readily  given. 

"  Were  they  to  have  returned  in  the  same  manner  ?"  pursued  the  president, 
framing  his  interrogatory  from  the  contents  of  another  slip  of  paper,  which, 
at  the  suggestion  of  the  governor,  had  been  passed  to  him  by  the  prosecutor, 
Mr.  Lawson. 

"  They  were,"  firmly  replied  the  prisoner.  '•  At  least  I  presumed  they 
were,  for,  I  believe  in  the  hurry  of  Captain  de  Haldimar's  departure,  he  never 
once  made  any  direct  allusion  to  the  manner  of  his  return ;  nor  did  it  occur 
to  me  until  this  moment  how  they  were  to  regain  possession  of  the  rope,  with- 
out assistance  from  within." 

"  Of  course,"  observed  Colonel  de  Haldimar,  addressing  the  president,  "  the 
rope  still  remains.     Mr.  Lawson,  examine  the  gate,  and  report  accordingly." 

The  adjutant  hastened  to  acquit  himself  of  this  laconic  order,  and  soon  af- 
terwards returned,  stating  not  only  that  there  was  no  rope,  but  that  the  hook 
alluded  to  had  disappeared  altogether. 

For  a  moment  the  clieek  of  the  prisoner  paled ;  but  it  was  evidently  less 
from  any  fear  connected  with  his  individual  existence,  than  from  the  shame 
he  felt  at  having  been  detected  in  a  supposed  falsehood.  He  however  speedil}^ 
recovered  his  self-possession,  and  exhibited  the  same  character  of  unconcern 
by  which  his  general  bearing  throughout  the  trial  had  been  distinguished. 

On  this  announcement  of  the  adjutant,  the  governor  betrayed  a  movement 
of  impatience,  that  w'as  meant  to  convey  his  utter  disbelief  of  the  whole  of  the 
prisoner's  statement,  and  his  look  seemed  to  express  to  the  court  it  should 
also  arrive,  without  hesitation,  at  the  same  conclusion.  Even  all  authoritative 
as  he  was^  however,  he  felt  that  military  etiquette  and  strict  discipline  pre- 
vented his  interfering  further  in  this  advanced  state  of  the  proceedings. 

■'  Prisoner,"  again  remarked  Captain  Blessington,  "  your  statement  in  re- 
gard to  the  means  employed  by  Captain  de  Haldimar  in  effecting  his  departure,  . 
is.  you  must  admit,  unsupported  by  appearances.     How  happens  it  the  rope 


42  W  A  C  O  V  K  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      PROPHECY. 

is  110  lon<rer  whore  you  saj  it  was  placed  ?  No  one  could  liave  removed  it  but 
yourself.  Have  3-011  done  so  ?  and  if  so.  can  you  produce  it.  or  say  where  it 
is  to  be  found  ?" 

"Captain  Blessinpcton,"  replied  Halloway.  proudly,  yet  respectfully,  "I 
have  already  invoked  that  creat  Beino;.  before  whose  tribunal  I  am  so  shortly 
to  appear,  in  testimony  of  the  truth  of  m}'  assertion ;  and  ajrain.  in  his  pres- 
ence, do  I  repeat,  every  word  I  have  uttered  is  true.  I  did  not  remove  the 
rope,  neither  do  I  know  what  is  become  of  it.  I  admit  its  disappearance  is 
extraordinary,  but  a  moment's  reflection  must  satisfy  the  court,  I  would  not 
have  devised  a  tale,  the  f\ilsehood  of  which  could  at  once  have  been  detected 
on  an  examination  sui?}i  as  that  which,  has  just  been  instituted.  When  Mr. 
Law-son  left  this  room  just  now.  I  fully  expected  he  would  have  found  the  rope 
lying  as  it  had  been  left.  What  has  become  of  it,  I  repeat.  I  know  not ;  but 
in  the  manner  I  have  stated  did  Captain  de  Haldimar  and"  Donellan  cross  the 
ditch.  I  have  nothmj  further  to  add."  he  concluded  once  more,  drawing  up 
his  nne  tall  person,  the  native  elegance  of  which  could  not  be  wholly  disguised 
even  in  the  dress  of  a  private  soldier  ;  "  nothing  further  to  disclose.  Yet  do 
I  repel  with  scorn  the  injurious  insinuation  against  my  fidelity,  suggested  in 
these  doubts.  I  am  prepared  to  meet  my  death  as  best  may  become  a  .soldier, 
and  let  me  add.  as  best  majr  become  a  proud  and  well  born  gentleman  ;  but 
humanity  and  common  justice  should  at  least  be  accorded  to  my  memory.  I 
am  an  unfortunate  man.  but  no  traitor." 

The  members  were  visibly  impressed  by  the  last  sentences  of  the  prisoner. 
No  further  question  however  was  asked,  and  he  was  again  removed  by  the 
escort,  who  had  been  wondering  spectators  of  the  scene,  to  the  cell  he  had  so 
recently  occupied.  The  room  was  then  cleared  of  the  witnes.ses  and  stran- 
gers, the  latter  comprising  nearly  the  whole  of  the  officers  off  duty,  when  the 
court  proceeded  to  deliberate  on  the  evidence,  and  pass  sentence  on  the  ac- 
cu.sed. 


CHAPTER   YI. 

Although  the  young  and  sensitive  De  Haldimar  had  found  physical  relief 
in  the  summary  means  resorted  to  by  the  surgeon,  the  moral  wound  at  liis 
heart  not  only  remained  unsoothed.  but  was  rendei-ed  more  acutely  painful  by 
the  wretched  reflections,  which  now  that  he  had  full  leisure  to  review  the 
past,  and  anticipate  the  future  in  all  the  gloom  attacheil  to  both,  so  violently 
assailed  him.  From  the  moment  when  his  brother's  strange  and  mysterious 
disappearance  had  been  communicated  by  the  adjutant  in  the  manner  we  have 
alread3r  seen,  his  spirits  had  been  deeply  and  fearfully  depressed.  Still  he  had 
every  reason  to  exjject.  from  the  well-known  character  of  Halloway,  the  strong 
bope  erqiressed  by  the  latter  might  be  realized  ;  and  that,  at  the  hour  appoint- 
ed for  trial,  his  brother  would  be  present  to  explain  the  cause  of  his  mysteri- 
ous absence,  justify  the  conduct  of  his  subordinate,  and  exonerate  him  from 
the  treachery  with  vrhich  he  now  stood  charged.  Yet.  powerful  as  this  hope 
was.  it  was  unavoidably  qu.ilified  by  flispiriting  doubt ;  for  a  nature  affection- 
ate and  bland,  as  that  of  Charles  de  Haldimar,  could  not  but  harbor  distrust, 
while  a  shadow  of  uncei-tainty.  in  i'cgard  to  the  iJite  of  a  brother  so  tenderly 
loved,  remained.  He  had  fbrced  himself  to  believe  as  much  as  possible  what 
he  wished,  and  the  effort  had,  to  a  certain  extent,  succeeded ;  but  there  had 
been  something  .so  solemn,  and  -«o  impressii'c  in  the  scene  that  had  passed 
when  the  prisoner  was  first  brought  up  for  trial,  .something  so  fearfiilly  pro- 
phetic in  the  wild  language  of  his  unhappy  wife,  he  had  found  it  impossible 
to  resist  the  influence  of  the  almost  superstitious  awe  they  had  awakened  in 
his  heart. 


wacousta;  on,  the  prophecy.       43 

What  the  feelings  of  the  young  officer  were  subsequently,  when  in  the  per- 
son of  the  uiurdercd  nuin  on  the  coinnioU;  the  victim  of  Sir  Everard  Valletort's 
aim,  he  recognized  that  brother,  whose  disappearance  had  occasioned  him  so 
much  inquietude,  we  shall  not  atieni])t  to  describo  ;  their  nature  is  best  shown 
in  the  effect  they  i^roduced — tii',  .iiur  s'  ovi  rwliclming-  ajrony  of  body  and 
mind,  which  had  borne  him,  liki  :i  .iitj.  h  jilaui,  unrosistinp;  to  the  earth. 
But  now  that,  in  the  calm  and  sn'i:  i.ilc  of  liis  cirinnber,  lir  ]vm]  lei.'^uro  to  re- 
view the  fe^jful  cAxnts  con.<;pivin'.':  to  iii-()(h;cL-  tliis  <■•.!  :v;-  ! , ,  Ms  ;uic,-nish  of 
spirit  was  even  deeper  than  Mdiei;  i\'v  lirsl  I'ude  sii->.-k  ^.r  ■  ■.,■.  i.-^on  Imd  flash- 
ed upon  his  understandiivr.  A  li'i^'  of  sniii.ri'.iv,  li:;.'  .'\ :;  fevered,  without 
rendering  him  sensible  of  i,  :  •  '  '.  .n:  i  :;'-*'■; .  -  ■  :i:i;,i  •'.'■,  Imd.  in  the  linst 
instance,  oppressed  his  fa' ii'  :  -.i-i  .i'  ■'>;■' .i  :;;-  !-•  .^^  pi'cu  ;  hut  now.  slow, 
sure,  stinging,  and  gradually  sijrcc;.i;;i;/  ■-.:r]\  ,<]•  i .  .■.tine  rwry  ]>'JAvv  thought 
and  rellectidu  of  which  that  t;;k'  w:is  .■•:  !,'.-,'!:  -,i(i  liir  Lruiurs  lioart  of 
Charles  de  Haldimar  was  a  prey  to  f  ■ciin- ■  ■l;.-ii  wonid  b:ive  \vi-ini;r  the  soul, 
and  wounded  the  sensibilities  of  one  far  less  gentle  and  susceptible  than  him- 
self. 

Between  Sir  Everard  "\';'jlotort  and  Charles  de  Haldimar.  who,  it  has  alread}'- 
been  remarked,  v.-cre  liontnianls  in  Captain  I'.le-sinctnn's  company,  a  senti- 
ment of  friendship  had  bei'ii  ;  :ri';'r;'.!  to  spring  up  almost  from  the  moment 
of  Sir  Everard's joinirr;-.  '■'!;  yMjun-  ,jn'n  were  n«u-ly  of  the  same  age;  and 
although  the  one -.'.:■  ;•;.!:--.  I'.ie  other  all  spirit  and  vivacity,  not   a 

shade  of  disunion  1  '  ^  ;;  .  ;  rin;!  iiitrrvened  to  interrnpt  the  almost  broth- 
erly attachni'ni  -:'  -^  ',.  ''  ,i.  en  tlieni,  and  each  felt  the  (lisiiosition  of  the 
other  was  th;  "n  ;:  •  .  ^  ^  '..lird  to  his  own.  In  fact,  Sii-  Everard  was  far 
from  being  tlu  --il'  -u^  ■::]  rl^^wm-iov  he  v.'as  often  Avilliiig  to  appear.  Under  a 
semblance  of  arlectatiou,  aiul  much  assumed  levity  of  manner,  never,  however, 
personally  oftensive,  he  concealed  a  bra\e,  gejiei-ous.  warm,  and  manly  heart, 
and  talents  becoming  the  i-ank  he  held  in  societj-,  such  as  woidd  not  have  re- 
flected iii-cn,  !ii  on  one  numbering  twice  his  years.  lie  had  entered  the  army, 
as  mo.-u  ^.luiiy  in'  n  of  rank  usually  did  at  that  period,  rather  for  the  agre- 
inens  it  held  I'oi  lii  thin  wiili  aip-  srrious  view  to  advancement  in  it  as  a  pro- 
fession. Still  111'  '  iii  -i.-iMv  -;  ;!;.■  ),.■■:!  iseworthy  desire  of  being  something  more 
than  what  is,  amen/  !.;  i  '  .i-y  ;P.;ii,  emphatically  termed  a  feather-bed  soldier. 
Not  that  we  mean,  ',!  w..  :,  i)  assert  he  was  not  a  feather-bed  soldier  in  its 
more  literal  sense  ;  in  ibit,  liis  own  observ.ations,  recorded  in  the  early  part 
of  this  volume,  sr.lii'-.  luly  jnove  his  predilection  for  the  indulgence  of  press- 
ing his  downy  coii'-ii.  lO  wlvxt  is  termed  a  decent  hour  in  the  dav. 

We  need  scavrol  <i\\i,^  Sir  Mverard's  theories  on  this  important  subject 
were  .seldom  n  :.;  ■  -i  ■.>■  yr  ,:  ii--  -  ;  for.  ivcn  l)nu-  bffoix'  the  Indians  had  bro- 
ken out  into  n;.:n  ',>.,;  ■,  h  11  ,11,  ii  |.i-  .MiMOiis  v.-cr,.  ri'jMJered  indispensa- 
ble, Colonel  (le  i;:,h'  ,  i  .,  :  i  ^  !■  '\!i-  i-iH  r,  i  I'iilirr  utlii'.^)-  ()-,■  man  to  linger  on 
his  pillow  after  th-   ^  miiv.i;  had  appeared.     This  was  a  system  to 

which  Sir  EveravJ  recoiu-ile   himself.      "  If  the  men  mast  be 

.drilled,"  he  urged,  •  ;  ,:  . ..  ,.,  to  tlieir  h.ealth  and  discipline,  why  not  place 

them  under  the  direciion  of  the  aijutanl,  or  the  officer  of  the  day,  whoever  he 
might  chance  to  be,  and  not  unnecessarily  disturl)  a  body  of  gentlemen  from 
their  comfortable  slumbers  at  that  unconscionable  hour  ?"  Poor  Sir  Everard  ! 
this  was  the  only  grievance  of  which  he  complained,  and  h.e  complained 
bittcrlj-.  Scarce!}- a  morning  passed  without  his  inveighing  loudly  again.st 
the  bar])arit3-  of  such  a  custom;  threatening  at  tl.e  same  time,  amid  the 
laughter  of  his  companions,  to  quit  the  service  in  disgust  at  what  he  called  so 
ungentlemanly  an.d  gothic  a  habit ;  and,  but  for  ttt'o  motives,  there  is  every 
probability  he  would  ha-*e  seriously  availed  himself  of  the  earliest  Opportunity 
of  retiring.  The  lii-st  of  these  was  his  growing  friendship  for  the  amiable 
and  gentle  Chai-les  de  Haldimar ;  the  second,  the  secret,  and  scarcely  to  liim- 
self  acknowledged,  interest  which  had  been  created  in  his  heart  for  his  sister 


44  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

Clara ;  whom  he  only  knew  from  the  glowing  descriptions  of  his  fi  iend,  and 
the  strong  resemblance  she  was  said  to  bear  to  him  by  the  other  officers. 

Clara  de  Haldimar  was  the  constant  theme  of  her  younger  brother's  praise. 
Her  image  was  ever  uppermost  in  his  thoughts — her  name  ever  hovering  on 
his  lips ;  and  when  alone  with  his  friend  Valletort.  it  was  his  delight  to  dwell 
on  the  worth  and  accomplishments  of  his  amiable  and  beloved  sister.  Then, 
indeed,  would  his  usually  calm  blue  eye  sparkle  with  the  animation  of  his 
subject,  while  his  coloring  cheek  marked  all  the  warmth  and  sincerit}^  \vith 
which  lie  bore  attestation  to  her  gentleness  and  her  goodness.  The  heart  of 
Charles  do  Haldimar.  soldier  as  he  was,  was  pure,  generous,  and  unsophisti- 
cated as  that  of  the  sister  whom  he  so  constantly  eulogised ;  and.  while  list- 
ening to  his  eloquent  praises.  Sir  Everard  learnt  to  feel  an  interest  in  a  being 
whom  all  declared  to  be  the  counterpart  of  her  brother,  as  well  in  personal 
attraction  as  in  singleness  of  nature.  With  all  his  afFccted  levity,  and  not- 
withstanding his  earl}^  initiation  into  fashionable  life — the  matter-of-fact  life 
Avhich  strikes  at  the  existence  of  our  earlier  and  dearer  illusions — there  wa.s  a 
dash  of  romance  in  the  character  of  the  j'^oung  baronet  which  tended  much  to 
inci'easc  the  pleasure  he  alwa}'S  took  in  the  warm  descriptions  of  his  friend. 
The  very  circumstance  of  her  being  personally  unknown  to  him,  was.  with  Sir 
Everard,  an  additional  motive  for  interest  in  Miss  de  Haldimar. 

Imagination  and  mysteiy  generally  work  their  way  together ;  and  as  there 
was  a  shade  of  mysteiy  attached  to  Sir  Everard's  verj^  ignorance  of  the  per- 
son of  one  whom  he  admired  and  esteemed  from  report  alone,  imagination 
was  not  slow  to  improve  the  opportunity,  and  to  endow  the  object  with  char- 
acteristics, which  perhaps  a  moi'c  intimate  knowledge  of  the  party  might  have 
led  him  to  qualify.  In  this  manner,  in  early  youth,  are  the  silken  and  will- 
ing fettei's  of  the  generous  and  enthusiastic  forged.  We  invest  some  object, 
whose  praises,  whispered  secretly  in  the  ear.  have  glided  imperceptibly  to  the 
heart,  with  all  'the  attributes  supplied  bj'  our  own  vivid  and  readilj'  according 
imaginations ;  and  so  accustomed  do  we  become  to  linger  on  the  picture,  we 
adore  the  semblance  with  an  ardor  which  the  original  often  fails  to  excite. 

We  do  not  say  Clara  de  Haldimar  would  have  fallen  short  of  tlie  iiigh  esti- 
mate formed  of  her  worth  by  the  friend  of  her  brother ;  neither  is  it  to  )je 
understood.  Sir  Everard  suffered  this  fair  vision  of  his  fancy  to  lead  him  into 
the  wild  and  labyrinthan  paths  of  boyish  romance. 

Whatever  were  the  impressions  of  the  young  baronet,  and  however  he  might 
have  been  inclined  to  suffer  the  fair  image  of  the  gentle  Clara,  such  as  he  xras 
perhaps  wont  to  paint  it,  to  exercise  its  spell  upon  his  fancy,  certain  it  is,  he 
never  expressed  to  her  brother  more  than  that  esteem  and  interest  which  it 
was  but  natural  he  should  accord  to  the  sister  of  his  friend.  Neither  had 
Charles  de  Haldimar,  even  amid  all  his  warmth  of  commendation,  ever  made 
the  slightest  allusion  to  his  sister,  that  could  be  con.strued  into  a  desire  she 
should  awaken  any  unusual  or  extraordinary  sentiment  of  preference.  Much 
and  fervently  as  he  desired  such  an  event,  there  \A-as  an  innate  sense  of  decorum, 
and  it  may  be  secret  pi'ide,  that  caused  him  to  abstain  from  any  observation 
having  the  remotest  tendency  to  compromise  the  spotless  delicacy  of  his  ador- 
ed sister  ;  and  such  he  would  have  considered  any  expression  of  his  own  hopes 
and  wishes,  where  no  declaration  of  preference  had  been  previously  made. 
There  was  another  motive  for  this  reserve  on  the  part  of  the  young  otficer. 
The  baronet  was  an  only  child,  and  would,  on  attaining  his  majority,  of  which 
he  wanted  only  a  few  months,  become  the  possessor  of  a  large  fortune.  IBs 
sister  Clara,  on  the  contrary,  had  little  beyond  her  own  fair  fame  and  the 
beauty  transmitted  to  her  by  the  mother  she  had  lost.  Colonel  de  Haldimar 
was  a  younger  son,  and  had  made  his  wa}^  through  life  with  his  sword,  and 
an  vuiblemished  reputation  alone — advantages  he  had  shared  with  his  cliild- 
ren,  for  the  two  eldest  of  whom  his  interest  and  long  services  had  procured 
commissions  in  his  own  regiment. 

But  even  while  Charles  de  Haldimar  abstained  from  all  expression  of  his 


W  A  C  O  U  t:  T  A  ;       OR,      THE       P  R  O  P   H  K  C  V  45 

liopes,  he  had  fully  made  up  his  mind  that  Sir  Kverard  and  his  sister  were  so 
formed  for  caeh  other,  it  was  next  to  an  impossibility  they  could  meet  with- 
out loving.  In  one  of  his  letters  to  the  latter,  he  ha<l  alluded  to  his  friend 
in  terms  of  so  high  and  earnest  panegyric,  that  Clara  had  acknowledged,  ia 
reply,  she  was  prepared  to  find  in  the  yoimg  baronet  one  whom  she  should 
regard  with  partiality,  if  it  were  oidy  on  account  of  the  friendship  subsisting 
between  liim  and  lier  brothei-.  This  admission,  however,  was  conmiunicated 
in  confidence,  and  the  young  officer  had  religiously  preserved  his  sister's  secret. 

'I'hese  and  fifty  other  recollections  now  crowded  on  the  mind  of  the  sufferer, 
onlv  to  render  the  intensit}'^  of  his  anguish  more  complete  ;  among  the  bit- 
terest of  which  was  the  certainty  that  tlie  mysterious  events  of  the  past  night 
had  raised  up  an  insuperable  barrier  to  this  union ;  for  how  could  Clara  dc 
Haldimar  become  the  wife  of  him  whose  hands  were,  however  innocently, 
stained  with  the  life-blood  of  her  brother  !  To  dwell  on  this,  and  the  loss 
of  that  brother,  was  little  short  of  madness,  and  yet  De  Haldimar  could 
think  of  nothing  else;  nor  for  a  period  could  the  loud  booming  of  the 
cannon  from  the  ramparts,  every  report  of  which  shook  his  chamber  to 
its  very  foundations,  call  off  his  attention  from  a  subject  which,  while 
it  pained,  engrossed  every  faculty  and  absorbed  every  thought.  At  length, 
towards  the  close,  he  called  fointly  to  the  old  and  faithful  soldier,  who, 
at  the  foot  of  the  bed,  stood  watching  every  change  of  his  master's  coun- 
tenance, to  know  the  cause  of  the  cannonade.  On  being  informed  the  bat- 
teries in  the  rear  were  covering  the  retreat  of  Captain  Erskine,  who,  in  his 
attempt  to  obtain  the  body,  had  been  surprised  by  the  Indians,  a  new  direc- 
tion was  temporarily  given  to  his  thoughts,  and  he  now  manifested  the  ut- 
most impatience  to  know  the  result. 

In  a  few  minutes  ^lorrison,  who,  in  defiance  of  the  surgeon's  strict  order 
not  on  any  account  to  quit  the  room,  had  flown  to  obtain  .some  intelligence 
which  he  trusted  might  remove  the  anxiety  of  his  suffering  master,  again 
made  his  appearance,  stating  the  corpse  was  already  secured,  and  close  under 
the  guns  of  the  fort,  beneath  which  the  detachment,  though  hotly  assailed 
from  the  forest,  were  also  fast  retreating. 

"  And  is  it  really  my  brother,  Morrison  ?  Are  you  quite  certain  that  it  is 
Caf>tain  de  Haldimar  7"  asked  the  3-oung  officer,  in  the  eager  accents  of  one 
•vrho,  ^\■ith  the  fullest  conviction  on  his  mind,  yet  grasps  at  the  faintest  shadow 
of  a  consoling  doubt.  "  Tell  me  that  it  is  not  my  brother,  and  half  of  what 
I  jvossess  in  the  world  shall  be  yours." 

nie  old  soldier  brushed  a  tear  from  his  eye.  '•  God  bless  3-ou,  ]Mr.  de  Hal- 
dimar, I  would  give  half  ni}'  grey  hairs  to  be  able  to  do  so ;  but  it  is,  indeed, 
too  truly  the  captain  who  has  been  killed.  I  saw  the  very  wings  of  his  regi- 
'ncntals  as  he  lay  on  his  fiice  on  the  litter." 

Charles  de  Haldimar  groaned  aloud.  "  Oh  God  !  oh  God  !  would  that  I 
had  never  lived  to  see  this  day."  Then  springing  suddenly  up  in  his  bed — 
"  3Iorn"son  where  are  my  clothes  ?  I  insist  on  seeing  my  slaughtered  brother 
myself." 

"  (Vood  Heaven,  sir,  consider,"  said  the  old  man,  approaching  the  bed,  and 
attempting  to  replace  the  covering  which  had  been  spurned  to  its  very  foot, — 
'•  consider  you  are  in  a  burning  fever,  and  the  slightest  cold  may  kill  you  alto- 
gether. The  doctor's  orders  are,  j-ou  Avere  on  no  account  to  get  up."  The 
eiTiirt  made  by  the  unfortunate  youth  was  momentary.  Faint  from  the  blood 
he  had  lost,  and  giddy  from  the  excitement  of  his  feelings,  he  sunk  back  ex- 
hausted on  his  pillow,  and  wept  like  a  child. 

Old  ?tIorrison  shed  tears  also  ;  for  his  heart  bled  for  the  suffei-ings  of  one 
whom  he  had  nursed  and  played  with  even  in  early  infancy,  and  whom,  al- 
though his  master,  he  regarded  with  the  affection  he  would  have  borne  to  his 
own  child.  As  he  had  justly  observed,  he  would  have  willingly  given  half 
his  remaining  j-ears  to  be  able  to  remove  the  source  of  the  sorrow  which  so 
deeply  oppressed  him. 


46  wacousta:    or,    the    prophecy. 

When  this  paroxT!=in  had  somewhat  subsided.  De  liaklimar  became  more 
compo.-ed ;  but  his  was  rather  chat  composure  which  grows  out  of  the  ajia^hy 
producefl  by  overwlielming  grief,  than  the  re,sult  of  any  reUef  afforded  to  his 
sufiering  heart  bj'  the  tears  he  had  shed.  He  had  continued  some  time  in 
thi.'-.  faint  and  apparently  tranquil  state,  when  confused  sounds  in  the  lianack- 
yard.  followed  by  the  raising  of  the  heavy  drawbridge,  announced  the  return 
of  the  detachment.  Again  he  started  up  in  his  bed  and  demanded  his  clothes, 
declaring  his  intention  to  go  out  and  receive  the  corpse  of  his  iniu-dered  broth- 
er. All  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  faithful  Morri.son  was  now  likely  to 
prove  fniitless.  when  suddenly  the  door  opened,  and  an  oflBcer  burst  hurriedly 
into  the  room. 

"  Courage  !  courage  !  my  dear  De  Haldiraar ;  I  am  the  bearer  of  good  news. 
Your  brother  is  not  the  person  who  has  been  slain." 

Again  De  Haldimar  sank  back  upon  his  pillow,  overvvhelmed  by  a  variety 
of  co:iiiicting  emotions.  A  moment  afterwards,  and  he  exclaimed  reproach- 
.  fully,  yet  almost  gasping  with  the  eagerness  of  his  manner. — 

"  For  God's  sake.  Sunmcrs — in  the  name  of  coinmon  humanity,  do  not  trifle 
with  my  feelings.  If  jou  would  seek  to  lull  me  with  false  hopes,  you  are 
wrong.  T  am  prepared  to  hear  and  bear  the  worst  at  present ;  but  to  be 
undeceived  again  would  break  my  heart." 

•'  I  swear  to  you  by  everj"  thing  I  have  been  taught  to  revere  as  sacred." 
solemnly  returned  Ensign  Sumners.  deeply  touched  by  the  affliction  he  wit- 
nessed. ■'  what  I  state  is  .strictly  true.  Captain  Erskine  himself  sent  me  to 
tell  you." 

"  What,  is  he  only  wounded  then  ?"  and  a  glow  of  mingled  hope  and  satis- 
faction v.-as  visible  even  through  the  flush  of  pre\-ious  excitement  on  the  cheek 
of  the  sufferer.  "  Quick.  Morrison,  give  me  my  clothes.  Where  is  my  broth- 
er, .Sumners  ?"  and  again  he  raised  up  his  debilitated  frame  with  the  intention 
of  quitting  his  couch. 

"  De  Haldimar,  m)-  dear  De  Haldimar,  compose  yourself  and  listen  to  me. 
Your  brother  is  still  missing,  and  we  are  as  much  in  the  dark  about  his  fate 
as  ever.  Ail  that  is  certain  is.  we  have  no  positive  knowledge  of  his  death ; 
but  surely  that  is  a  thousand  times  preferable  to  the  horrid  apprehensions 
under  which  we  have  all  hitherto  labored." 

"  What  mean  you.  Sumners  ?  or  am  I  so  bewildered  with  my  sufferings  as 
not  to  comprehend  you  clearly  ?  Xay.  nay.  forgive  me ;  but  I  am  almost 
heart-broken  at  this  loss,  and  .scarcely  know  what  I  say.  But  what  is  it  j'ou 
mean  ?     I  .saw  my  unhappy  brother  l)'ing  on  the  common  with  my  own  eyes. 

Poor  Yalletort  himself "  here  a  rush  of  bitter  recollections  flashed  on  the 

memory  of  the  young  man.  and  the  tears  coursed  each  other  rapidly  down 
his  cheek.  His  emotion  lasted  a  few  moments,  and  he  pursued. — "  Poor  Yal- 
letort himself  saw  him.  for  he  was  nearly  as  much  overwhelmed  with  afflic- 
tion as  I  was  ;  and  even  Moirison  beheld  him  also,  not  ten  minutes  since, 
under  the  very  walls  of  the  fort ;  nay.  distingiiished  the  wings  of  his  uniform ; 
and  yet  you  would  persuade  me  my  Vjrother,  instead  of  Vieing  brought  in  a 
corpse,  is  still  missing  and  alive.  This  is  little  better  than  trifling  with  my 
wretchedness,  Sumners,"  and  again  he  sank  back  exhausted  on  his  pillow. 

"I  can  easily  forgive  your  doubts,  De  Haldiraar."  returned  the  sympathi.s- 
ing  Sumners,  taking  the  hand  of  his  companion,  and  pressing  it  gently  in  his 
own  ;  '•  for,  in  truth,  there  is  a  great  deal  of  mystery  attached  to  the  whole 
affair.  I  have  not  seen  the  body  myself;  but  I  distinctly  heard  CaptJiin 
Erskine  state  it  certainly  v/a-s  not  your  brother,  and  he  requested  me  to  ap- 
prise both  Sir  Everard  Yalletort  and  yourself  of  the  fact." 

"  Who  is  the  murdered  man.  then  ?  and  how  comes  he  clad  in  the  uniform 
of  one  of  our  officers  ?  PshaAV !  it  is  too  absurd  to  be  credited.  Eiskine  is 
mistaken — he  must  be  mistaken — it  can  be  no  other  than  my  poor  brother 
Frederick.     Sumners.  I  am  sick,  faint,  with  this  cruel  uncertainty:  go,  my 


w  A  c  0  u  s  T  A  ;     I)  11 ,    T  n  K    1'  II  o  r  i:  K  c  y  .  17 

dear  fellow,  at  once,  and  cx:uniuL^  Uk'  liody  ;  then  return  to  mo,  and  satisfy 
m}^  doubts,  if  iiossible." 

"  Most  willingly,  if  you  desire  it,"  returned  Suiiniers,  moving  towards  the 
door ;  "  but  believe  me.  De  Ilaldimar,  you  miiy  make  your  mind  tranquil  on 
the  subject — P]rskine  spoke  with  certainty." 

'■  Have  you  seen  A'alletort  ?"  asked  Dc  Haldiniar,  wl'.ile  an  involuntary  shud- 
der pervaded  his  frame. 

•'  1  have.  lie  flew  on  the  instant  to  make  further  in(iuiries  ;  and  was  in  the 
act  of  going  to  examine  the  body  of  the  nun'dcrcd  man  when  f  came  here. 
But  here  he  is  himself,  and  his  comitenance  is  the  harbinger  of  any  thing  but 
a  <lenial  of  my  intelligence." 

'•  Oh,  Charles,  what  a  weight  of  misery  has  been  removed  from  my  heart !" 
exclaimed  that  Officer,  now  rushing  to  the  bedside  of  his  friend,  and  seizing 
his  extended  hand, — ''  Your  l)rother.  let  us  hope,  still  lives." 

•■Almighty  God,  I  thank  thee!"  fervently  ejaculated  De  Ilaldimar;  and 
then,  overcome  with  joy,  surprise,  and  gratitude,  he  again  sank  back  upon  liis 
pillow,  sobbing  and  weeping  violently. 

Sumners  had,  with  delicate  tact,  retired  the  moment  Sir  Evcrard  made  his 
appearance :  for  he,  a,s  well  as  the  whole  body  of  officers,  was  aware  of  the 
close  friendship  that  subsisted  between  the  young  men. 

We  shall  not  attempt  to  paint  all  tliat  passed  between  the  friends  during 
the  first  interesting  moments  of  an  interview  which  neither  had  expected  to 
enjoy  again,  or  the  delight  and  satisfaction  with  which  they  congratulated 
themselves  on  the  futility  of  those  fears,  which,  if  realised,  must  have  embit- 
tered every  future  moment-  of  their  lives  with  the  most  harrowing  recol- 
lections. 

With  that  facility  with  which  in  youth  the  generous  and  susceptible  are 
prone  to  exchange  their  tears  for  smiles,  as  some  powerful  motive  for  the  re- 
action may  promjit,  the  invalid  had  already,  and  {or  the  moment,  lost  sight  of 
the  painful  past  in  the  pleasurable  i)resent,  so  that  his  a(-tual  excitement  was 
strongly  in  contrast  with  the  melancholy  he  had  so  recently  exhibited.  Never 
had  Charles  de  Ilaldimar  appeared  so  eminently  hiuidsome  ;  and  yet  his  beauty 
resembled  that  of  a  i'rail  and  delicate  woman,  rather  than  that  of  one  called  to 
the  nianl}^  and  arduous  profession  of  a  soldiei-.  The  large,  blue,  long,  dark- 
lashed  eye,  in  whicli  a  sliade  of  langor  harmonized  with  the  soft  but  animated 
expression  of  the  wliole  countenance. — the  dimpled  mouth, —  the  small,  clear, 
and  even  teeth, — all  these  now  characterised  Charles  de  Ilaldimar ;  and  if  to 
these  we  add  a  voice  rich,  full,  and  melodious,  and  a  smile  sweet  and  fascinat- 
ing, we  shall  be  at  no  loss  to  account  for  the  readiness  with  which  Sir  Everard 
suifered  his  imagination  to  draw  on  the  brother  for  those  attributes  he  ascribed 
to  the  sister. 

It  was  while  this  impression  was  strong  upon  his  fancy,  he  took  occasion  to 
remark,  in  reply  to  an  observation  of  De  Ilaldimar's,  alluding  to  the  despair 
with  which  his  sister  would  have  been  seized,  had  she  known  one  brother  had 
fallen  by  the  hand  of  the  friend  of  the  other. 

"  The  grief  of  my  own  heart,  Charles,  on  tins  occasion,  would  have  been 
little  inferior  to  her  own.  The  truth  is,  my  feelings  during  the  last  three 
hours  have  let  me  into  a  secret,  of  the  existence  of  which  I  was,  in  a  great  de- 
gree, ignorant  until  then  :  I  scarcely  know"  how  to  express  myself,  for  the 
communication  is  .so  truly  absurd  and  romantic  you  will  not  credil  it."  He 
paused,  hesitated,  and  then,  as  if  determined  to  anticipate  the  ridicule  he  seemed 
to  feel  would  be  attached  to  his  confessioil,  with  a  foi-ced  half  lau^h  pin-suud: 
'•The  fact  is,  Charles,  I  have  been  so  much  used  to  listen  to  your  warm  and 
eloquent  praises  of  your  sister,  I  liavc  absolutely,  I  will  not  say  fallen  in  love 
with  (that  would  be  going  too  far),  but  conceived  so  strong  an  interest  in  her, 
that  ray  most  ardent  desire  would  be  to  find  favor  in  her  eyes.  What  say 
you,  my  friend  ?  are  3-ou  inclined  to  forward  my  suit :  and  if  so,  is  there  any- 
chance  for  me,  think  you,  with  herself?" 


48  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

The  breast  of  Charles  de  Haldimar,  who  had  listened  with  deep  and  increas- 
ing attention  to  this  avowal,  swelled  high  with  pleasureablc  excitement,  and 
raising  himself  up  in  his  bed  with  one  hand,  while  he  grasped  one  of  Sir 
Everard's  with  the  other,  he  exclaimed  with  a  transport  of  affection  too  forci- 
ble to  be  controlled, — 

"  Oh,  Valletort,  Valletort !  this  is,  indeed,  all  that  was  wanting  to  complete 
my  happiness.  My  sister  Clara  I  adore  with  all  the  affection  of  mj'  nature  ; 
I  love  her  better  than  my  own  life,  which  is  wrapped  up  in  hers.  She  is  an 
angel  in  disposition, — all  that  is  dear,  tender,  and  affectionate, — all  that  is 
gentle  and  lovely  in  woman ;  one  whose  welfare  is  dearer  far  to  me  than  my 
own,  and  without  whose  presence  I  could  not  live,  Valletort,  that  prize, — 
that  dearer  half  of  myself,  is  yours, — yours  for  ever.  I  have  long  wished  you 
should  love  each  other,  and  I  felt,  when  j-ou  met,  }-ou  Avould.  If  I  have 
hitherto  forborne  from  expressing  this  fondest  wi.sh  of  my  heart,  it  has  been 
from  delicac}' — from  a  natural  fear  of  compromising  the  ptiritj^  of  my  adored 
Clara.  Now,  however,  you  have  confessed  j^ourself  interested,  by  a  descrip- 
tion that  falls  far  short  of  the  true  merit  of  that  dear  girl,  I  can  no  longer  dis- 
guise my  gratification  and  delight.  Valletort,"  he  concluded,  impressively, 
"  there  is  no  other  man  on  earth  to  whom  I  would  say  so  much ;  but  you 
were  formed  for  each  other,  and  j^ou  will,  you  must,  be  the  husband  of  my 
sister." 

If  the  youthful  and  affectionate  De  Haldimar  was  happy.  Sir  Everard  was 
no  less  so ;  for  already,  with  the  entliusiasm  of  a  young  man  of  twenty,  he 
painted  to  himself  the  entire  fruition  of  tho.se  dreams  of  happiness  that  had 
so  long  been  familiarised  to  his  imagination. 

A  single  knock  was  now  heard  at  the  door  of  the  apai-tmcnt ;  is  was  opened, 
and  a  sergeant  appeared  at  the  entrance. 

"  The  company  are  under  arms  for  punishment  parade.  Lieutenant  Valletort," 
said  the  man  touching  his  cap. 

In  an  instant,  the  visionary  prospects  of  the  young  men  gave  place  to  the 
stern  realities  connected  with  that  announcement  of  punishment.  The  treason 
of  Hallowa}^, — the  absence  of  Frederick  De  Haldimar, — the  danger  by  which 
they  were  beset, — and  the  little  probability  of  a  re-union  with  those  who  were 
most  dear  to  them, — all  these  recollections  now  flashed  across  their  minds  with 
the  rapidity  of  thought ;  and  the  conversation  that  had  so  recently  passed  be- 
tween them  seemed  to  leave  no  other  impression  than  what  is  produced  from 
some  visionary  speculation  of  the  moment. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

As  the  bells  of  of  the  fort  tolled  the  tenth  hour  of  morning,  the  groups  of 
dispersed  soldiery,  warned  by  the  rolling  of  the  assembly  drum,  once  more 
fell  into  their  respective  ranks  in  the  order  described  in  the  opening  of  this 
volume.  Soon  afterwards  the  prisoner  Halloway  was  re-conducted  into  the 
square  by  a  strong  escort,  who  took  their  stations  as  before  in  the  immediate 
centre,  where  the  former  stood  principally  conspicuous  to  the  observation  of 
his  comrades.  His  countenance  was  paler,  and  had  less,  perhaps,  of  the  in- 
ditTerence  he  had  previously  manifested ;  but  to  supply  this  there  was  a  cer- 
tain subdued  air  of  calm  "dignity,  and  a  composure  that  sprang,  doubtless, 
from  the  consciousness  of  the  new  character  in  which  he  now  appeared  before 
his  superiors.  Colonel  de  Haldimar  almost  immediately  followed  and  with 
him  were  the  principal  staff  of  the  garrison,  all  of  whom,  with  the  exception 
of  the  sick  and  wounded  and  their  attendants,  were  present  to  a  man.  The 
former  took  from  the  hands  of  the  adjutant,  Lawson,  a  large  packet,  consisting 
of  several,  sheets  of  folded  paper  closely  written  upon.  These  were  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court-martial. 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      P  K  O  I'  H  E  C  Y  .  49 

After  eiiumcratiiiji  tl\c  several  charges,  and  detailing  the  evidence  of  the 
Tfitnesses  examined,  the  governor  came  at  length  to  the  finding  and  sentence 
of  the  court,  which  wei-e  as  follows : — 

''  The  com-t  having  dul}-^  considered  the  e-vidence  adduced  against  the  pris- 
oner, private  Frank  Halloway.  together  with  what  he  has  urged  in  his  defence, 
are  of  opinion, — 

•'  That  with  regard  to  the  first  charge,  it  is  not  proved. 

•'That  with  regiird  to  the  second  charge,  it  is  not  proved. 

"  That  with  regard  to  the  third  charge,  even  by  his  own  voluntary  confes- 
sion, the  prisoner  is  guilty. 

'•  The  court  having  found  the  prisoner  private  Frank  Halloway  guilty  of  the 
third  charge  preferred  against  him,  which  is  in  direct  violation  of  a  standing 
order  of  the  gairison  entailing  cajiital  punishment,  do  hereby  sentence  him, 
the  said  prisoner,  private  Frank  Halloway,  to  be  shot  to  death  at  such  time 
and  place  as  the  officer  commanding  may  deem  fit  to  appoint." 

Altliough  the  utmost  order  perva<led  the  ranks,  every  breath  had  been  sus- 
pended, every  ear  stretched  during  the  i-eading  of  the  sentence ;  and  now  that 
it  came  arrayed  in  terror  and  in  blood,  every  glance  was  turned  in  pity  on  its 
unhappy  victim.  But  Halloway  heard  it  with  the  ears  of  one  who  lias  made 
up  his  mind  to  suffer ;  and  the  faint  half  smile  that  played  upon  his  lips 
spoke  more  in  scorn  tlian  in  sorrow.     Colonel  de  Haldimar  pursued  : — 

"  The  coiu-t  having  found  it  imperatively  incumbent  on  them  to  award  the 
punishment  of  death  to  the  prisoner,  private  Frank  Halloway,  at  the  same 
time  gladly  avail  themselves  of  their  privilege  by  strongly  recommending  him 
to  mercy.  The  court  cannot,  in  justice  to  the  character  of  the  prisoner,  refrain 
from  expressing  their  imanimous  conviction,  that  notwithstanding  the  my.ste- 
rious  circumstances  which  have  led  to  his  confinement  and  trial,  he  is  entirely 
innocent  of  the  treachery  ascribed  to  him.  The  court  have  founded  this  con- 
viction on  the  excellent  character,  both  on  duty  and  in  the  field,  hitlierto 
borne  by  the  prisoner, — his  well-known  attachment  to  the  officer  with  wliose 
abduction  he  stands  charged, — and  the  manly,  open,  and  (as  the  com-t  are 
satisfied)  correct  history  given  of  his  former  life.  It  is,  moreover,  the  im- 
pression of  the  court,  that,  as  stated  by  the  prisoner,  his  guilt  of  the  third 
charge  has  been  the  i-esult  only  of  his  attachment  for  Captain  de  Haldimar. 
And  for  this,  and  the  reasons  above  assigned,  do  they  strongly  recommend 
the  prisoner  to  mercj-. 

(Signed)  "  Noel  Blessington,  Captain  and  President. 

'■  Sentence  approved  and  confirmed. 

Charles  de  Haldimar,  Colonel  and  Commandant." 

While  these  concluding  remarks  of  the  court  were  being  read,  the  prisoner 
manifested  the  deepest  emotion.  If  a  smile  of  scorn  had  previously  played 
upon  his  !ip,  it  was  because  he  fancied  the  court,  before  whom  he  had  sought 
to  vindicate  his  fame,  had  judged  him  with  a  severity  not  inferior  to  his  colo- 
nel's ;  but  now  that,  in  the  presence  of  his  companions,  he  heard  the  flatter- 
ing attestation  of  his  services,  coupled  even  as  it  was  with  the  sentence  that 
condemned  liim  to  die,  tears  of  gi-atitude  and  pleasure  rose  despite  of  himself 
to  his  eyes;  and  it  required  all  his  self-coiimnuid  to  enable  him  to  abstain 
from  giving  expression  tfl  his  feelings  towards  those  who  had  so  generously 
interpreted  the  motives  of  his  dereliction  from  duty.  But  when  the  melan- 
choly and  startling  fact  of  the  approval  and  confirmation  of  the  sentence  met 
his  ear,  without  the  slightest  allusion  to  that  mercy  which  had  been  so  ur- 
gently recommended,  he  again  overcame  his  weakness,  and  exhibited  his 
wonted  air  of  calm  and  unconcern. 

"  Let  the  prisoner  be  removed,  Mr.  Lawson,"  ordered  the  governor,  whose 
stern  and  somewhat  dissatisfied  expression  of  countenance  was  the  only  com- 
ment on  the  recommendation  for  mercy. 
4 


50  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

The  order  was  promptly  executed.  Once  more  Ilalloway  left  the  square., 
and  was  reconducted  to  the  cell  he  had  occupied  since  the  preceding  night. 

"  Major  Blackwater,"  pursued  the  governor,  "  let  a  detachment  consisting 
of  one-half  the  gaiTison  be  got  in  readiness  to  leave  the  fort  Avitliin  the  hour. 
Captain  Wentworth,  three  pieces  of  field  artUlery  will  be  required.  Let  them 
be  got  ready  also."  He  then  retired  from  the  area,  while  the  officers,  who 
had  just  received  Ms  commands,  prepared  to  fulfil  the  respective  duties  as- 
signed them. 

Since  the  first  alarm  of  the  garrison  no  opportunity  had  hitherto  been  af- 
forded the  oflicers  to  snatch  the  slightest  refreshment.  Advantage  was  now 
taken  of  the  short  interval  allowed  by  the  governor,  and  they  aU  repaired  to 
the  mess-room,  where  their  breakfast  had  long  since  been  provided. 

"  Well,  Blessington,"  remarked  Captain  Erskine.  as  he  filled  his  plate  for 
the  third  time  from  a  large  haunch  of  venison,  for  wliich  his  recent  skirmish 
with  tlie  IndiiUis  had  given  liim  an  unusual  relish,  "  so  it  appears  your  recom- 
mendation of  poor  Ilalloway  to  mercy  is  little  likely  to  be  attended  to.  Did 
you  remark  how  displeased  the  colonel  looked  as  he  bungled  tlu-ough  it  ?  One 
might  almost  be  tempted  to  think  he  had  an  interest  in  the  man's  death,  so 
determined  does  he  appear  to  carry  his  point." 

Although  several  of  his  companions,  perhaps,  felt  and  thought  the  same, 
still  there  was  no  one  who  would  have  ventured  to  avow  his  real  sentiments 
in  so  unqualified  a  manner.  Indeed  such  an  observation  proceeding  from  the 
lips  of  any  other  officer  would  have  excited  the  utmost  surprise ;  but  Captain 
Erskine,  a  brave,  bold,  frank,  and  somewhat  thoughtless  soldier,  was  one  of 
those  beings  who  are  privileged  to  say  anything.  His  opinions  were  usually 
expressed  without  ceremory ;  and  his  speech  was  not  the  most  circumspect 
now,  as  since  his  return  to  the  fort  he  had  swallowed,  fasting,  two  or  three 
glasses  of  a  favorite  spirit,  which,  without  intoxicating,  had  greatly  excited 
him. 

''  I  remarked  enough,"  said  Captain  Blessington,  who  sat  leaning  his  head 
on  one  hand,  while  with  the  other  he  occasionally,  and  almost  mechanically, 
raised  a  cup  filled  with  a  liquid  of  pale  blood  color  to  his  lips. — "  quite 
enough  to  make  me  regret  from  my  veiy  soul  I  should  have  been  his  prin- 
cipal judge.  Poor  Halloway,  I  pity  liim  much ;  for,  on  my  honor,  I  believe 
him  to  be  the  gentleman  he  represents  himself." 

•'  A  finer  fellow  does  not  live,"  remarked  the  last  remaining  officer  of  the 
grenadiers.  "  But  surely  C'olonel  dc  Haldimar  cannot  mean  to  carry  the  sen- 
tence into  effect.  Tlie  recommendation  of  a  court,  couched  in  such  terms  as 
these,  ought  alone  to  have  some  \A"eight  with  him." 

"  It  is  quite  clear,  from  the  fact  of  his  having  been  remanded  to  his  cell,  the 
execution  of  the  poor  fellow  will  be  deferred  at  least,"  observed  one  of  Cap- 
tain Erskine's  subalterns.  '"  If  the  governor  had  intended  he  should  suffer 
immediately,  he  would  have  had  him  shot  the  moment  after  his  sentence  was 
read.  But  what  is  the  meaning  and  object  of  this  new  sortie  ?  and  whither 
are  we  now  going  ?  Do  you  know.  Captain  Erskine,  our  company  is  again 
ordered  for  this  duty  ?" 

•'Know  it,  Leslie  !  of  com-se  I  do ;  and  for  that  reason  am  I  paying  my 
coiu't  to  the  more  substantial  pai't  of  the  1  )realdast.  Come,  Blessington,  my 
dear  fellow,  you  have  quite  lost  your  appetite,  and  we  may  have  sharp  work 
before  we  get  back.  Follow  my  example :  tlu'ow  that  nasty  blood-thicken- 
ing sassafras  sway,  and  lay  a  foundation  from  this  venison.  None  sweeter  is 
to  be  found  in  the  forests  of  America.  A  few  slices  of  that,  and  then  a  glass 
each  of  my  best  Jamaica,  and  we  shall  have  strength  to  go  through  the  ex- 
pedition, ii'  its  object  be  the  capture  of  the  bold  Ponteac  himself." 

''I  presume  the  object  is  rather  to  seek  for  Captain  de  Haldimar,"  said 
Lieutenant  Eoyce,  the  officer  of  the  grenadiers;  ''but  in  that  case  why  not 
send  out  b.is  own  company  V 

•'  Because  tlie  colonel  prefers  trusting  to  cooler  heads  and  mam  cxpeiienced 


wacousta;  or,  the  propheuv.      51 

arras,"  good-lunnoredly  observed  Captain  Erskme.  '"  Blessiiigton  is  our  se- 
nior, and  his  men  arc  all  old  stagers.  My  lads,  too.  have  had  their  mettle  up 
iilready  this  morning,  and  there  is  nothing  like?  that  to  prepare  men  for  a 
dasli  of  enterprise.  It  is  with  theni  as  with  blood  horses,  the  more  you  put 
them  on  their  speed  the  less  anxious  are  they  to  quit  the  course.  Well. 
•Johnstone,  my  brave  Scot,  ready  for  another  skirkmish?"  he  asked,  as  that 
officer  now  entered  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  an  appetite  little  inferior  to  that 
of  his  captain. 

•'  With  '  nunquam  non  paratus'  foi'  mj-  motto,"  gaily  retui-netl  the  3'oung 
man,  ''it  were  odd,  indee<l.  if  iv  mere  scratch  like  this  should  prevent  me  from 
establishing  my  claim  to  it  by  following  wlierever  my  gallant  captain  leads." 

"  Most  courteously  spoken,  and  little  in  the  spirit  of  a  man  yet  smarting  under 
tlie  infliction  of  a  rifle  wound,  it  must  be  confessed,"  remarked  Lieutenant 
Leslie.  '■  But,  Johnstone,  you  should  bear  in  mind  a  too  close  adherericc  to 
that  motto  has  been,  in  some  degree,  fatal  to  your  family." 

'•  No  reflections,  Leslie,  if  you  please,"  returned  his  brother  subaltern, 
shghtly  reddening.  '•  If  the  head  of  our  family  was  unfortunate  enough  to 
be  considered  a  traitor  to  EnglancI,  he  was  not  so,  at  least  to  Scotland ;  and 
Scotland  was  the  land  of  his  birth.  But  let  iiis  politics!  errors  he  forgotten. 
Though  the  winged  spur  no  longer  adorn  the  booted  ].  '  '  i  ;al  of  An- 
nandale,  the  time  may  not  be  far  distant  when  some  )  -  -lular  mo- 

parch  of  England  shall  restore  a  title  forfeited  neithe)-  i  \  ladice  nor 

dishonor,  but  from  an  erroneous  sense  of  duty." 

"  That  is  to  say,"  muttered  Ensign  Delme,  looking  round  for  an  approval 
as  he  spoke,  "  that  our  present  king  is  neither  liberal  nor  popular.  WeU,  Mr. 
Johnstone,  were  such  an  observation  to  reach  the  ears  of  Colonel  de  Haldjmar 
you  would  stand  a  very  fair  cliance  of  being  brought  to  a  court  martial." 

'■  That  is  to  say  nothing  of  the  kind,  sir,"  somewhat  fii'cely  retorted  the 
young  Scot ;  "  but  anything  I  do  say  you  are  at  liberty  to  repeat  to  Colonel 
de  Haldimar,  or  whom  you  will.  I  cannot  understand.  Leslie,  why  you 
shoidd  have  made  any  allusion  to  the  misfortunes  of  my  iamily  at  tliis  par- 
ticular moment,  and  in  this  public  manner.  I  trust  it  was  not  with  a  vie^v  to 
offend  me  ;"  and  he  fixed  his  large  black  eyes  upon  his  brotlier  subaltern,  as 
if  ha  would  have  read  every  thought  of  his  mind. 

"  Upon  my  honor,  Jotinstone,  I  meant  nothing  of  the  kind,"  frankly  re- 
turned Leshe.  ''  I  merely  meant  to  hint  that  as  you  had  had  your  share  of 
seiwice  this  morning,  j-ou  might,  at  least,  have  suffered  me  to  borrow  yom' 
spm'S.  while  you  reposed  for  the  present  on  yom-  laurels." 

''  There  are  my  gay  and  gallant  Scots,"  exclaimed  Captain  Ersldne,  as  he 
swallowed  off"  a  glass  of  the  old  Jamaica  which  stood  before  him,  and  with 
which  he  usually  neutralised  the  acidities  of  a  meat  breakfast.  "  Settled  like 
gentlemen  and  lads  of  spirit,  as  ^e  are."  he  jjxirsued,  as  the  )^oung  men  cor- 
dially shook  each  other's  ha^id  across  the  table.  "  What  an  enviable  com-, 
mand  is  mine,  to  have  a  companj'^  of  brave  fellows  who  would  face  the  devil 
himself  were  it  necessary  ;  and  two  hot  and  impatient  subs.,  who  ai'e  ready 
to  cut  each  othei''s  throat  for  the  pleasure  of  accompanying  me  against  a  set 
of  savages  that  are  little  better  than  so  many  devils.  Come,  Johnstone,  you 
know  the  colonel  allows  us  but  one  sub.  at  a  time,  in  con.sequence  of  om- 
sc^ircit}'-  of  officers,  therefore  it  is  but  fair  Leslie  should  have  his  turn.  It 
wiU  not  be  long,  I  dare  say,  before  we  shall  have  another  brush  with  the  . 
rascals." 

"  In  my  opinion,"  observed  Captain  Blessington,  who  had  been  a  silent 
and  thoughful  witness  of  what  was  passing  around  him,  "  neither  Leslie  nor 
John.stonc  would  evince  so  much  anxiety,  were  they  awai-e  of  the  true  nature 
of  the  duty  for  vrhich  our  companies  have  been  ordered.  Depend  upon  it,  it 
is  no  search  after  Captain  de  Haldimar  in  which  we  are  about  to  bo  engaged ; 
.for  much  as  the  colonel  loves  his  son.  he  would  on  no  account  compromise 


52       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

the  safety  of  the  garrison,  by  sendiuG;  a  party  into  the  forest,  where  poor  De 
Haldimar.  if  alive,  is  at  all  likely  to  be  found." 

"Faith  3-0U  are  right.  Blessington  ;  the  governor  Ls  not  one  to  run  thesa 
sort  of  risks  on  every  occasion.  My  chief  surprise,  indeed,  is,  that  he  suffered 
me  to  venture  even  upon  the  common  ;  but  if  we  are  not  designed  for  some 
hostile  expedition,  wh}'  leave  the  fort  at  all  ?" 

"  The  question  wDl  need  no  answer  if  Hallowaj-be  found  to  accom}iany  us." 

"Psha!  why  should  Halloway  be  taken  out  for  the  purpose?  If  he  be 
shot  at  all,  he  will  be  shot  on  the  ramparts,  in  the  presence  of,  and  as  an  ex- 
ample to,  the  whole  garrison.  Still,  on  reflection,  1  cannot  but  thiuk  it  inn- 
possible  the  sentence  should  be  carried  into  full  effect,  after  the  .^^troug.  nay„ 
the  almost  unprecedented  recommendation  to  mercy  recorded  on  the  face  of" 
the  proceedings." 

Captain  Blessington  shook  his  head  despondingly.  "What  think  you,. 
Erskine,  of  the  policy  of  making  an  example,  which  niay  be  witnessed  b}-  tht- 
enemy  as  well  as  the  garrison?  It  is  evident,  from  liis  demeanor  throughout,, 
nothing  will  convnnce  the  colonel  that  Halloway  is  not  a  traitor,  and  he  may- 
think  it  a(ivisal)le  to  stiike  terror  into  the  minds  of  the  savages,  by  an  execu- 
tion which  will  have  the  effect  of  showing  the  treason  of  the  soldier  to  have 
been  discovered.' 

In  this  opinion  man}'  of  the  officers  now  concurred  ;  and  as  the  fate  of  the 
imfortunate  Halloway  began  to  assume  a  character  of  almost  certainty,  even 
the  spirit  of  the  gallant  Erskine,  the  least  .subdued  by  the  recent  distressing, 
events,  was  overclouded ;  and  all  sank,  as  if  by  one  consent,  into  silent  com- 
munion with  then-  thoughts,  as  they  almost  mechanically  completed  the  meal, 
at  which  habit  rather  than  appetite  still  continued  them.  Before  any  of  themt 
had  yet  risen  fi'om  the  table,  a  loud  and  piercing  scream  met  their  ears  front 
without ;  and  so  quick  and  universal  was  the  movement  it  produced,  that  itK 
echo  had  scarcely  yet  died  nwaj  in  distance,  when  the  whole  of  the  breakfast 
party  had  issued  from  the  room,  and  were  already  spectators  of  the  cause. 

As  the  officers  now  passed  from  the  mess-room  nearly  opposite  to  the  gate,, 
they  observed,  at  that  part  of  the  barracks  which  ran  at  right  angles  with  it, 
and  immediately  in  front  of  the  apartment  of  the  younger  De  Haldimar, 
whence  he  had  apparently  just  issued,  the  governor,  struggling,  though  gei^tly, 
to  disengage  himself  from  a  female,  who.  with  disordered  hair  and  dress,  lay 
almost  prostrate  upon  the  piazza,  and  clasping  liis  booted  leg  Avith  an  energy 
evidently  borrowed  from  the  most  rootcnl  despair.  The  quick  eye  of  the 
haught}-  man  had  already  rested  on  the  group  of  officers  drawn  by  the  scream 
of  the  supplicant.  Numbers,  too.  of  the  men,  attracted  by  the  same  cause, 
were  collected  in  front  of  their  respective  block-houses,  and'  looking  from  the 
windows  of  the  rooms  in  which  they  were  also  breakfasting,  prej)aratory  to 
the  expedition.  Vexed  and  iiTitatcd  beyond  measure,  at  being  th.us  made  a 
conspicuous  object  of  observation  to  liis  'inferiors,  the  unbending  governor 
made  a  violent  and  successfid  effort  to  disengage  his  leg  ;  and  then,  ^vithoui 
uttering  a  word,  or  otherwise  noticing  the  unhajipy  ))eing  who  lay  extended 
at  his  feet,  he  stalked  across  the  parade  to  his  a])artments  at  the  opj)0,>^ite  an- 
gle, without  appearing  to  manifest  the  slightest  consciousness  of  the  i<cene  that 
had  awakened  such  miiversal  attention. 

Several  of  the  officers,  among  whom  was  Captain  Blessington,  now  hastened 
to  the  assistance  of  the  female,  whom  all  had  recognised,  from  the  finst.  to 
be  the  interesting  and  unhappy  wife  of  Halloway.  Many-  of  the  comrades- 
of  the  latter,  who  had  been  pained  and  pitying"  spectators  of  the  -scene, 
also  advanced  for  the  same  piu-pose  ;  but.  on  perceiving  their  object  an- 
ticipated by  their  superiors,  they  withdrew  to  the  block-houses,  wlience  they 
had  issued.  Never  was  grief  more  forcibly  depicted,  than  in  the  whole  aj)- 
pearance  of  this  imfortunate  Avoman  ;  never  did  anguish  assume  a  character 
more  fitted  to  touch  the  soul,  or  to  conunand  respect.  Her  long  fair  hair, 
that  had  hitherto  been  hid  under  the  coarse  ninl)  cap.  usuall}-  worn  by  the 


in  the  1'. 

libit  of 

tliTowiiip,-  theinsc 

Ive, 

these  ( •; 

'.|it:iii! 

lilessuiLrlMM.  ;i,-.--isl 

r() 

the  -^lili; 
disoi.ln 

.-rill--  ;i 

T  d^t<^-'Vl[\ul 

■    il 

gre:!!rr 

ii(  lii'ai 

■V.  <.r  .•!i)senre   of  1 

i"\'i 

the  lirst 

va'i    oi'  luT   eniiM-ii 

ms 

\V  A  C  O  V  8  T  A  :      OK,     T  H  K     1'  K  <»  I'  H   K  C  Y  .  53 

■wives  of  the  sokhers.  was  now  diveNiefl  of  iill  fasteniiip;.  and  hiy  sliadowiiig  a 
white  au(i  polished  hosoiii.  wliioh,  in  lier  violent  stru!j;ji'Ie.s  to  detain  the  gov- 
pernor,  Ir.id  hurst  from  its  rude  hut  modest  eonlineuient,  and  was  now  dis- 
played in  all  the  daz/Iing  delicacy  of  youth  and  sex.  If  the  officers  gazed 
for  a  moment  with  excited  look  upon  charms  that  had  long  been  strangers  to 
their  sight,  and  of  an  order  they  little  deemed  to  lind  in  Ellen  llalloway,  it 
was  hut  the  invohnitary  trihnte  rendcivd  by  nature  unto  beauty.  The  depth 
and  sacredness  of  that  sorrow,  which  liad  left  the  wretched  woman  uncon- 
-seions  of  her  exposure  in  the  instant  afterwards  imposed  a  check  upon  ad- 
miration, which  each  felt  to  be  a  violation  of  "the  hist  2)rineiples  of  human 
delicacy,  and  tlie  feeling  was  repressed  almost  in  the  moment  that  gave  it 
^birth. 

They  '(v-ere  imme(hately  in  front  of  the  room  occn{>ied  by  Charles  de  Haldi- 
mar.  in  the  piazza  of  whicli  were  a  few  old  chairs,  on  which  the  officers  were 
dr.ring  the  lieat  of  the  day.  On  one  of 
ly  the  ofiicer  of  grenadiers,  now  seated 
1  in  way.  His  first  care  was  to  repair  the 
\  ,is  the  ofhce  performed  by  man  with 
V  by  lijo-e  who  witnessed  it.  This  was 
•ss.  'i'he  inviolability  of  modesty  for  a 
moment  rose  paramount  even  to  the  desolation  of  her  heart,  and  })utting  rude- 
ly aside  the  hand  that  reposed  miavoidably  upon  her  person,  the  poor  woman 
started  from  her  seat,  and  looked  wildly  about  her.  as  if  endeavoring  to  iden- 
tify those  by  whom  she  was  surrounded.  But  when  she  ol  (served  the  pitying 
gaze  of  the  officers  fixed  upon  her,  in  earnestness  am  I  c(  muuiseration,  and  heard 
the  benevolent  accents  of  the  ever  kind  Blessington  exhorting  her  to  compo- 
sure, her  weeping  became  more  violent  and  her  sobs  more  convulsive.  Cap- 
tain Blessington  threw  an  ai'm  round  her  waist  to  prevent  her  from  falling; 
and  tlien  motioning  to  two  or  three  women  of  the  company  to  which  her  hus- 
band was  attached,  who  stood  at  a  little  distance,  in  front  of  one  of  the  block- 
houses, prepared  to  deliver  her  over  to  their  charge. 

"  No,  no,  not  yet !"  burst  at  lengtli  from  the  agonised  woman,  as  she  shrank 
fi'om  the  rude  lint  well-intentioned  touch  of  the  sympathising  assistants,  who 
had  promptly  an,-;wered  the  signi^k;  then,  as  if  obeying  some  new  direction 
'of  hei-  feelings,  some  new  impulse  of  her  grief,  she  liberated  herself  from  the 
■slight  grasp  of  Cajitain  Blessington,  turned  suddenlv  round,  and,  before  any- 
•one  could  anticipate  the  movement,  entered  an  opening  on  the  piazza,  raised 
'the  latch  of  a  door  situated  at  its  extremity,  and  was,  in  the  next  instant,  in 
fthe  apartment  of  the  younger  De  Haldimar. 

The  scene  that  met  the  eyes  of  the  officers,  who  now  followed  close  after 
:her,  was  one  well  calculated  to  make  an  impression  on  the  hearts  even  of  the 
smost  insensible.  In  the  desi)air  and  recklessness  of  her  extreme  sorrow,  the 
young  wife  of  Hallo  way  had  already  thrown  herself  upon  her  knees  at  the 
<'bed  side  of  the  sick  ofiicer ;  and.  with  her  hands  upraised  and  firmly  clasped 
together,  was  now  supplicating  him  in  tones,  contrasting  singularly  in  their 
gentleness  with  the  depth  of  the  sorrow  that  had  rendered  her  thus  regard- 
Jess  of  appearances,  and  insensible  to  observation. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  de  Haldimar !"  she  implored,  '•  in  the  name  of  God  and  of  our 
■blessed  Saviour,  if  you  would  save  me  from  niadness,  intercede  foi'  my  un- 
happy husband,  and  preserve  him  from  the  horrid  fate  that  awaits  him.  You 
>are  too  good,  too  gentle,  too  amiable,  to  rej(  el  the  ]irayer  of  a  heart-broken 
woman.  Moreover.  Mr.  de  ila.ldiniar."  she  proeeeiled.  with  deeper  energy, 
while  she  caught  and  pressed,  between  her  own  white  and  bloodless  hands, 
one  nearly  as  delicate  that  lay  extended  near  her.  '•  consider  all  my  dear  but 
unfortunate  husband  has  done  for  your  family.  Think  of  the  blood  he  once 
spilt  in  the  defence  of  your  brother's  life  ;  that  brother,  through  whom  alone, 
oh  God  !  he  is  now  condemned  to  die.  Call  to  mind  the  days  and  nights  of 
anguish  I  passed  near  his  couch  of  snifering,  when  yet  writhing  lieneath  the 


54  W  Ji  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      O  R  ,     T  H  E     P  R  O  P  H  E  C  Y  . 

wound  aimecl  at  the  life  of  Captain  de  Haldimar.  Abnightj-  Providence  !"  she 
piu\siied,  in  the  same  impassioned  yet  plaintive  voice.  "  why  is  not  Miss  Clara 
here  to  plead  the  cause  of  the  innocent,  and  to  touch  the  stubborn  heart  of 
her  merciless  father  ?  She  would,  indeed,  move  heaven  and  earth  to  save  the 
life  of  him  to  whom  she  so  often  vowed  eternal  gratitude  and  acknowledgment. 
Ah,  she  little  dreains  of  liis  danger  now ;  or,  if  prayer  and  intercession  could 
avail,  my  husband  would  yet  live,  and  this  terrible  struggle  at  mj-  heart  would 
Ix'  no  more." 

Overcome  by  her  emotion,  the  unfortunate  woman  suffered  her  aching  head 
to  droop  upon  the  edge  of  the  bed,  and  her  sobbing  became  so  painfully  vio- 
lent, that  all  who  heard  her  expected,  at  every  moment,  some  fatal  termina- 
tion to  her  immoderate  grief.  Charles  de  Haldimar  was  little  less  affected ; 
and  liis  sorrow  was  the  more  bitter,  as  he  had  just  proved  the  utter  inefficacy 
of  anything  in  the  shape  of  appeal  to  his  inflexible  father. 

'"Mi's.  Halloway,  my  dear  Mrs.  Hallowaj-,  compose  yourself,"  said  Captain 
Blessington,  now  approaching,  and  endeavoring  to  raise  her  gently  from  the 
flooi',  on  which  she  still  knelt,  while  her  hands  even  more  fii-mly  gi-asped  that 
of  De  Haldunar.  "  You  are  ill,  very  ill,  and  the  consequence  of  this  dreadful 
excitement  may  be  fatal.  Be  advised  by  me,  and  retire.  I  have  desired  mj 
room  to  be  prepared  for  you,  and  Sergeant  Wilmot's  wife  shall  remain  with 
you  as  long  as  you  maj"  require  it. 

''No,  no.  no  !"  she  again  exclaimed  with  energy.  "  what  care  I  for  my  own 
wretched  life — my  beloved  and  unhappy  husband  is  to  die.  Oh  God  !  to  die 
without  guilt — to  be  cut  off  in  his  youth — to  be  shot  as  a  traitor — and  that 
simj)ly  for  obeying  the  wishes  of  the  oflScer  whom  he  loved  ! — the  son  of  the 
man  who  now  spurns  all  supplication  from  his  presence.  It  is  inhuman,  it  is 
unjust — and  Heaven  will  punish  the  hard-hearted  man  who  mui-ders  him — 
yes,  murders  him !  for  such  a  punishment  for  such  an  oftcnce  is  nothing  less 
than  murder."  Again  she  wept  bitterly,  and  as  Captain  Blessington  still  es- 
sayed to  soothe  and  raise  her : — "  No.  no  !  I  will  not  leave  this  spot."  she  con- 
tinued ;  "  I  will  not  quit  the  side  of  j\Ir.  De  Haldimar,  until  he  pledges  him- 
self to  intercede  for  my  poor  husband.  It  is  his  duty  to  save  the  life  of  him 
who  saved  his  brother's  life ;  and  G od  and  humanjustice  are  with  m}- appeal. 
Oh,  tell  me,  then,  Mr.  de  Haldimar, — if  y^u  would  save  my  wretched  heart 
from  breaking, — teU  me  you  will  intercede  for,  and  oBtain  the  pardon,  of  my 
husband!"      '  ^ 

As  she  concluded  this  last  sentence  in  passionate  appeal,  she  had  risen  from 
her  knees ;  and,  conscious  only  of  the  importance  of  the  boon  solicited,  now 
threw  heiself  upon  the  breast  of  the  highlj^  pained  and  agitated  j'oung  officer. 
Her  long  aii^d  beautiful  hair  fell  floating  over  liis  face,  and  mingled  with  his 
own,  while  her  arms  Avere  wildly  clasped  around  him.  in  all  the  energy  of 
frantic  and  hopeless  adjuration. 

"  Almighty  God  !"  exclaimed  .the  agitated  young  man,  as  he  made  a  feeble 
and  fruitless  effort  to  raise  the  form  of  the  unhappy,  woman ;  "  v/hat  shall  1 
say  to  impart  a  comfoi't  to  this  suffering  being  ?  Oh.  Mrs.  Hallowa}-."  he 
pursued.  "'  I  would  Avilliugly  give  all  I  possess  in  this  Avorld  to  be  the  means 
of  saving  your  unfortunate  husband, — and  as  much  for  his  own  sake  as  for 
yours  would  I  do  this ;  but,  alas !  I  have  not  the  power.  Do  not  think  I 
speak  without  conviction.  My  father  has  just  been  with  me,  and  I  have 
pleaded  the  cause  of  j-our  husband  with  an  earnestness  I  should  scarcely  have 
used  had  my  own  life  been  at  stake.  But  all  my  entreaties  have  been  in  vain. 
He  is  obstinate  in  the  belief  my  brother's  strange  absence,  and  Doiiellan's 
death,  are  attributable  only  to  the  treason  of  Halloway.  Still  there  is  a  hope. 
A  detachment  is  to  leave  the  fort  Avithin  the  houi',  and  Halloway  is  to  accom- 
pany them.  It  may  be,  my  father  intends  this  measure  only  with  a  view  to 
terrify  liim  to  a  confession  of  guilt ;  and  that  he  deems  it  politic  to  make  him 
imdergo  all  the  fearful  preliminaries  without  carrying  the  sentence  itself  into 
effect." 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      O  R  ,     T  H  E     P  R  O  P  H  E  C  V  .  55 

The  uafortunate  woman  said  no  more.  When  she  raised  her  heaving  chest 
from  that  of  the  3'ouug  officer,  licr  eyes,  though  retl  and  shnmk  to  half  their 
usual  size  with  weeping,  were  teai'less  ;  l)ut  on  lier  I'ountonance  there  was  an 
expression  of  wild  woo,  infinite!)-  more  distressing  to  l)ehold,  in  consequence 
of  the  almost  unnatural  check  so  suddenly  im})osed  upon  her  feelings.  She 
tottered,  rather  than  walked,  through  the  group  of  officers,  who  gave  way  on 
either  hand  to  let  hei-  pa.ss;  and  rejecting  all  assistance  ironi  the  women  who 
hail  followed  into  the  room,  and  who  now,  in  obedience  to  another  signal  from 
Captain  Blessington.  hastened  to  her  support,  finally  gained  the  door  and 
quitted  the  .ipartment. 


CHAPTER   Vlir. 

The  sun  was  high  in  the  meridian,  as  the  second  detacliment,  commanded 
by  Colonel  de  Haldimar  in  person,  issued  from  the  fort  of  Detroit.  It  was 
that  soft  and  hazy  season,  pecidiar  to  the  bland  and  beautiful  autumn  of  Ca- 
nada, when  the  golden  light  of  heaven  seems  as  if  transmitted  through  a  veil 
of  tissue,  and  all  of  animate  and  inanimate  natm-e,  expanding  and  fructify- 
ing beneath  its  fostering  influence,  breathes  the  most  delicious  langiior  and 
voluptuoTis  repose.  It  was  one  of  those  still,  calm,  warm,*  and  genial  days, 
which  in  those  regions  come  undei-  the  vulgar  designation  of  the  Indian  sum- 
mer ;  a  season  that  is  ever  hailed  l^y  the  Canadian  with  a  satisfaction  propor- 
tioned to  the  extreme  sultriness  of  the  summer,  and  the  equallj-  oppressive 
rigor  of  the  winter,  by  which  it  is  immediately  preceded  and  followed. 

Such  a  day  as  that  we  have  just  described  was  the September,  1763, 

when  the  chief  portion  of  the  EnglLsh  garrison  of  Detroit  issued  forth  from 
the  fortifications  in  which  they  had  so  long  been  cooped  up,  and  in  the  pre- 
sumed execution  of  a  duty  undeniably  the  most  trying  and  painful  that  ever 
fell  to  the  lot  of  soldier  "to  perform.  The  detachment  wended  its  slow  and 
solemn  course,  with  a  mournfid  pageantry  of  preparation  that  gave  fearful 
earnest  of  the  tragedy  expected  to  be  enacted. 

In  front,  and  di-agged  by  the  hands  of  the  g-unners,  moved  two  of  the  three 
three-pounders,  that  had  been  ordered  for  the  duty.  Behind  these  came  C.q)- 
tain  Biessington's  company,  and  in  their  rear,  the  prisoner  Halloway.  di^\'>te  I 
of  lus  imiform,  and  clad  in  a  "wliite  cotton  jacket,  and  a  cap  of  the  same  ma- 
terial. Six  rank  and  file  of  the  grenadiers  followed,  under  the  command  .of  a 
corporal,  and  behind  these  again,  came  eight  men  of  the  same  company ;  fom- 
of  whom  bore  on  their  shoulders  a  coffin,  covered"  -with  a  coarse  black  paU 
that  had  perhaps  already  assisted  at  fifty  interments ;  while  the  other  four 
carried,  in  addition  to  their  own.  thetmuskets  of  their  burdened  coim-ades. 
After  these,  marched  a  solitary  di'ummer-boy ;  whose  taU  bear-skin  cap  at- 
tested liim  to  be  of  the  grenadiers  also,  while  the  muffled  instrument  marked 
the  duty  for  which  he  had  been  selected.  Like  his  comrades,  none  of  whom 
exhibited  their  scarlet  uniforms,  he  wore  the  collar  of  his  great  coat  close}}' 
buttoned  beneath  his  chin,  which  was  only  partially  visible  above  the  stiff 
leathern  stock  that  encircled  his  neck.  Although  his  features  were  half  bu- 
ried in  his  huge  cap  and  the  high  collar  of  his  coat,  there  was  an  air  of  deh- 
cacy  about  Ms  person  that  seemed  to  render  him  ujisuited  to  such  an  office ; 
and  more  than  once  was  Captain  Erskine,  who  followed  immediately  behind 
him  at  the  head  of  his  company,  compelled  to  call  sharply  to  the  urcliin. 
threatening  him  with  a  week's  drill  unless  he  mended  his  fl-eble  and  unequal 
pace,  and  kept  from  \iuder  the  feet  of  his  men.  The  remaining  gim  brought 
tip  the  rear  of  the  detachment,  v.^ho  marched  with  fixeii  bayonets  and  two 
balls  in  each  musket ;  the  whole  presenting  a  front  of  sections,  that  completely 
filled  up  the  road  along  which  they  passed.  Colonel  de  Haldimar,  Captain 
Wentworth,  and  the  Adjutant  Lawson  followed  in  the  extreme  rear. 


56 


wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy 


An  event  so  singular  as  that  of  the  appearance  of  the  Engh'sh  witliout  their 
fort,  beset  as  they  were  by  a  host  of  fierce  and  daTigerons  enemies,  was  not 
likely  to  pass  unnoticed  by  a  single  individual  in  the  little  village  of  Detroit. 
We  have  already  observed^  that  most  of  the  colonist  settlers  had  been  cruelly 
massacred  at  the  very  onset  of  hostilities.  Not  so,  however,  with  the  Cana- 
dians, who,  from  their  anterior  relations  with  the  natives,  and  the  mutual  and 
tacit  good  understanding  that  subsisted  between  both  parties,  were  suflered 
to  continue  in  quiet  and  uimiolested  possession  of  their  homes,  where  they  pre- 
served an  avowed  neutrality,  never  otherwise  infringed  than  by  the  assistance 
secretly  and  occasionally  rendered  to  the  English'troops.  \\'hose  gold  they 
were  glad  to  receive  in  exchange  for  the  necessaries  of  life. 

Every  dwelling  of  the  infant  town  had  commenced  giving  up  its  tenant^:, 
from  the  moment  when  the  head  of  the  detachment  was  seen  traversing  the 
drawbridge ;  so  that,  by  the  time  it  reached  the  highway,  and  took  its  direc- 
tion to  the  left,  the  whole  population  of  Detroit  were  already  assembled  in 
groups,  and  giving  expression  to  the  their  several  conjectures,  witli  a  vivacity 
of  language  and  energy  of  gesticulation  that  would  not  have  (hsgraced  tlie 
parent  land  itself.  As  the  troops  drew  nearer,  however,  they  all  sank  at  once 
into  a  silence,  as  much  the  result  of  certain  unacknowledged  and  undefined 
fears,  as  of  the  respect  the  English  had  ever  been  accustomed  to  exact. 

At  the  further  extremity  of  the  town,  and  at  a  bend  in  the  road,  which 
branched  off  more  immediately  towards  the  river,  stood  a  public  housej  whose 
creaking  sign  bore  three  ill  executed  fleur-de-lis,  apologetic  emblems  of  the 
arms  of  France.  The  building  itself  was  little  more  than  a  rude  log  hut, 
along  the  front  of  vv'hich  ran  a  plank,  supported  by  two  stumps  of  trees,  and 
serving  as  a  temporary  accommodation  both  for  the  traveller  and  the  inmate. 
On  this  tench  three  persons,  apparently  attracted  by  the  beauty  of  the  day 
and  the  mildness  of  the  autumnal  sun,  were  now  seated,  two  of  whom  were 
leisurely  puffing  their  pipes,  while  the  third,  a  female,  was  employed  in  card- 
ing wool,  a  quantity  of  which  lay  in  a  basket  at  her  feet,  while  .she  warbled, 
in  a  low  tone,  one  of  the  simple  airs  of  her  native  land.  The  eider  of  the  two 
men,  whose  age  might  be  about  fifty,  offered  nothing  remarkable  in  his  ap- 
pearance ;  he  Avas  dressed  in  a  coat  nfade  of  the  common  white  blanket,  while 
his  hair,  cut  square  upon  the  forehead,  and  tied  into  a  club  of  nearly  a  foot 
long,  fell  into  the  cape  or  hood  attached  to  it. 

His  companion  was  habited  in  still  a  more  extraordinary  manner.  His  lower 
limbs  were  cased,  up  to  the  mid-thigh,  in  leathern  leggings,  the  seam  of  which 
was  on  the  outside,  leaving  a  margin,  or  border,  of  about  an  inch  wide,  which 
had  been  slit  into  innumerable  small  fringes,  giving  them  an  air  of  elegance 
and  lightness  :  a  garter  of  leather,  curiously  wrought,  with  the  stained  quills 
of  the  porcupine,  encircled  each  leg,  immediately  under  the  knee,  where  it 
was  tied  in  a  bow,  and  then  suffered  to  hang  pendant  half  way  down  the 
iimb ;  to  the  fringes  of  the  leggings,  moreover,  were  attached  numerously 
dark-colored  horny  substances,  emitting,  as  they  rat-tied  against  each  other,  at 
the  slightest  movement  of  the  wearer,  a  tinkling  sound,  resembling  that  pro- 
duced by  a  number  of  small  thin  delicate  br;v.ss  bells ;  these  were  the  tender 
hoofs  of  the  wild  deer,  dried,  scraped,  and  otherwise  prepared  for  this  orna- 
mental purpose. 

The  form  and  face  of  this  individual  were  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  style 
of  his  costume,  and  the  character  of  his  equipment.  His  stature  was  beyond 
that  of  the  ordinary  race  of  men,  and  his  athletic  and  muscular  liml)S  united 
the  extremes  of  strength  and  activity.  His  features,  marked  and  prominent, 
wore  a  cast  of  habitual  thought,  strangely  tinctured  with  ferocity ;  and  the 
expression  of  his  otherwise  not  unhandsome  countenance  was  re])el]ant  and 
disdainful.  At  the  first  glance  he  might  have  been  taken  for  one  of  the  swar- 
thy natives  of  the  soil ;  but  though  time  and  constant  exposure  to  scorching 
suns  had  given  to  his  complexion  a  dusky  hue,  still  there  was  wanting  the 
quick,  black,  penetrating  eye  ;  the  high  cheek  bone  ;  the  straight,  coarse, 


W  A  C  O  IT  S  1   A  :      OR,      1    U  K      1'  R  O  J>  H   K  V  Y  .  57 

shilling;  l)l;ick  hair  ;  the  sui;ill)»iny  hnud  aiul  tuot ;  and  tlic  phicully  pi-oud 
and  serious  air,  by  wliioh  tlie  fovnior  is  distinguished.  His  own  eye  was  of  a 
deep  hhiish  grey  ;  his  hair  short,  dark  and  wavy  ;  liis  liantls  htrge  and  muscu- 
lar ;  and  so  far  from  exhibiting  any  of  the  .seU-command  of  the  In(Uau,  the 
coustaut  play  of  his  features  betrayed  each  pa.ssing  thouglit  with  the  same 
rapidity  with  wliich  it  \vas  conceived.  But  it"  any  doubt  couM  hiive  existed 
in  the  mind  of  him  who  beheld  lliis  strangely  accoutred  tigm-e.  it  would  liave 
been  instantly  dispelled  by  a  glance  at  his  limbs.  From  his -leggings  to  the 
hip.  that  poi-tion  of  the  lowc.^r  limb  was  completely  bare,  and  dis'^loscd,  at 
each  movement  of  the  gai'ment  that  was  suffered  to  fall  loo.-ely  over  it,  not 
the  swarthy  and  copper-colored  iiesli  of  the  Indian,  but  the  pale  though  sun- 
burnt skin  of  <nie  of  a  more  temnerate  clime,  llis  aee  mia-ht  be  about  fortv- 
five.  ■  ■  ■ 

At  the  moment  when  the  Knglish  (ietachment  approached  the  bend  in  the 
road,  these  two  individuals  were  (;onvt'rsing  earnestly  together,  pausing  only 
to  puff  at  inteixals  tliii']\  and  wreathing  volumes  of  smoke  from  their  pipes, 
which  were  lilled  with  a  nn'xture  of  tobacco  and  odoriferous  lierbs.  Pres- 
ently, however,  sounds  (hat  appeared  I'amiliar  to  his  ear  arrested  the  attention 
of  the  wildly  accoutred  being  we  have  last  desci-ibed.  It  was  the  heavy  roll 
of  tlie  artillery  carriages  already-  advancing  along  the  road,  anil  somewliat  in 
the  rear  of  the  hut.  To  dash  his  pipe  to  the  ground,  seize  ami  coik  and  raise 
his  rifle  to  his  shoulder,  was  but  the  work  of  a  momoit.  Startled  by  the 
suddenness  of  the  ixction,  his  male  cojupanion  moved  a  few  ii;ices  ;i!so  from 
his  seat  to  discover  the  cause  of  this  singular  movement.  The  female,  on  the 
contrary,  stirred  not.  ])ut  ceasing  for  a  moment  the  occupation  in  which  she 
liad  been  engaged,  lixed  lici'  dark  and  brilliant  eyes  upon  the  tall  l-'rin  of  the 
rilieuKin.  wliosi'  atii'ctic  liiiilis.  thrown  into  powerful  relief  by  lii"  ili-leni.ion 
of  each  nrr\e  and  nr.iscle.  appeare<l  to  engross  her  whole  adii'.ii-alii.ii  an. I  in- 
terest, without  any  reference  to  the  cause  that  had  produced  this  abnij)t  an<l 
hostile  change  in  his  movements.  It  was  evident  that,  unlike  the  other  in- 
habitants of  the  town,  this  group  had  been  taken  by  sur[)rise,  and  v.ere 
utterly  unprepared  to  expect  anyibing  in  ilie  s]i-\\.<-  <>['  in{:\ir>\\)t\i>n. 

For  upwards  of  a  minute,  during  w  iiirli  liiv'  ma/Tli  oi  tlic  nun  I lecaiae  au- 
dible even  to' the  ears  of  the  female,  the  formiiialde  warrior.  I'or  such  liis  garb 
denoted  him  to  be,  continued  motionless  in  the  attitude  he  ha!  :it  liiM  assum- 
ed. No  sooner,  however,  had  the  head  of  the  advancing  coiumn  come  within 
sight,  than  the  aim  was  taken,  the  trigger  pulled,  and  tlie  small  and  ragged 
Ijullet  sped  hissing  from  the  grooved  and  delicate  bari'el.  A  trium]:)hant  cry 
was  next  pealed  from  the  lips  of  the  warrior, — a  cry  produced  by  D'"  qn'ckly 
repeated  application  and  removal  of  one  hand  to  and  from  the  n  nii;^.  wliile 
the  other  suffered  tlie  ))utt-end  of  the  noM'  harmless  weapon  to  !;;;i  Ici^.-cly 
upon  the  earth.  He  then  slowly  and  deliberately  withdrew  witiiin  the  cover 
if  the  but. 

This  daiing  action,  which  had  been  viewed  by  the  leading  troops  with  as- 
tonishment not  nnmingled  with  alarm,  occasioned  a  temporarj*  confusion  in 
the  ranks,  for  all  believed  they  had  faJlen  into  an  ambuscade  of  the  Indians. 
A  halt  was  instantly  commanded  by  Captain  Blessington,  in  order  to  give 
time  to  the  governor  to  come  up  from  the  real-,  while  he  proceeded  with  one 
of  the  leading  sections  to  reconnoitre  the  jVont  of  the  hut.  To  liis  surprise, 
however,  he  found  neither  enemy,  nor  evidenci'  that  an  enemy  had  been  there. 
The  only  individuals  visible  were  the  (Canadian,  and  the  dark-eyed  female. 
Both  were  seated  on  the  bench; — the  one  smoking  his  pipe  with  a  well  assum- 
ed appearance  of  unconcern — the  other  carding  her  wool,  but  with  a  Inind 
that  by  a  close  observer  might  be  seen  to  tremble  in  its  office,  and  a  cheek 
that  was  paler  than  at  the  moment  when  we  first  placed  her  before  the  imag- 
ination of  the  reader.  Both,  however,  started  with  unaflected  surprise  on 
seeing  Captain  Blessington  and  his  little  force  turn  the  corner  ofi.the  house 


58 


wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy 


from  the  main  road ;  and  certain  looks  of  recognition  pa&sed  between  ail  par- 
ties, that  proTed  them  to  l>e  no  strangers  to  each  other. 

"  Ah,  monsieur,"  said  the  Canadian,  in  a  mingled  dialect,  neither  French 
nor  English,  while  he  attempted  an  ease  and  freedom  of  manner  that  was  too. 
miserably  affected  to  pass  cm-rent  Mith  the  mild  but  observant  ofiBcer  whom 
he  addressed,  "  how  much  surprise  I  am,  and  glad  to  see  j-ou.  It  is  a  long- 
times  since  you  came  out  of  de  fort.  I  hope  de  governeui-  and  de  officer  be 
all  Yery  well.  I  Avas  tinking  to  go  to-day  to  see"  if  you  want  any  ting.  I 
have  got  some  nice  ram  of  tlie  Jamaiqu'e  for  Oapita'ine  Erskine.  Will  you 
please  to  try  some  ?"  "\Yhile  speaking,  the  voluble  host  of  the  Flenr  de  "Lis 
had  risen  from  his  seat.  laid  aside  his  pipe,  and  now  stood  -with  his  hands 
thrust  into  the  pockets  of  -his  blanket  coat. 

"It  is  indeed  a  long  time  since  we  have  been  here,  Master  Francois,"  some- 
what sarcastically  and  drily  replied  Captain  l^lessingtou  ;  "  and  you  have  not 
visited  us  quite  so  often  latterly  yourself,  though  well  aAvare  we  were  in  want 
of  fresh  provisions.  I  give  you  all  due  credit,  however,  for  j-our  intention  of 
coming  to-day,  but  you  see  we  have  anticipated  you.  >Still  this  is  not  the 
}>oint.  Where  is  the  Indian  who  iired  at  us  just  now  ?  and  how  is  it  we  find 
you  leagued  witli  our  enemies  ?" 

'•  What,  sir,  is  it  you  say  ?"  asked  the  Canadian,  holding  up  his  hands  with 
feigned  astohishment.  "  Me  league  myself  with  the  savage.  Upon  my  honor 
T  did  not  see  nobody  fire,  or  I  should  teU  you.  I  love  the  English  too  well 
to  do  dem  harms." 

"  Come,  come,  Fran9ois,  no  nonsense.  If  I  cannot  make  you  confess,  there 
is  one  not  far  from  me  who  will.  You  know  Colonel  de  Haldimar  too  well 
to  imagine  he  -wiU  be  trifled  with  in  this  manner  :  if  he  detects  jou  in  a  false- 
hood, lie  will  certainly  cause  you  to  be  hanged  up  at  the  first  tree.  Take  my 
advice,  therefore,  and  saj^  where  you  have  secreted  this  Indian  ;  and  recollect, 
if  we  fall  into  an  ambuscade,  your  life  will  ))e  forfeited  at  the  first  shot  Ave 
hear  fired." 

At  this  moment  the  governor,  followed  by  his  adjutant,  came  rapidlj"  up  to 
the  spot.  Captain  Blessington  communicated  the  ill  success  of  his  queries, 
when  the  former  cast  on  the  terrified  Canadian  one  of  those  severe  and  searcli- 
ing  looks  which  he  so  well  knew  how  to  assume. 

"Where  is  the  rascal  who  fired  at  us.  sirrah?  tell  me  instaptly.  or  you 
have  not  five  minutes  to  live." 

The  heart  of  mine  host  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis  quailed  within  him  at  this  for- 
midable threat ;  and  the  usually  ruddy  hue  of  his  countenance  had  now  given 
place  to  an  ashy  paleness.  StiU  as  he  positively  denied  all  knowledge  of  the 
matter  on  which  he  was  questioned,  he  appeared  to  feel  his  safety  lay  in  ad- 
hering to  his  original  statement.  Again,  therefore,  he  assured  the  governor, 
on  his  honor  (laying  his  hand  upon  his  heart  as  he  siwke,)  that  what  he  had 
already  stated  was  the  fact. 

"  Yom-  honor — you  jjitiful  trading  scoundrel — how  dare  you  talk  to  me  of 
your  honor  ?  CoinCy  sir.  confess  at  once  where  you  have  secreted  this  felloAA". 
or  prepare  to  die." 

"  If  I  may  be  so  bold,  your  honor,"  said  one  of  Captain  Blessington's  men. 
••  the  Frenchman  lies.  When  the  Ingian  fired  among  us,  this  fellow  w^as 
peeping  under  his  shoulder  and  watching  us  also.  If  I  had  not  seen  him  too 
often  at  the  fort  to  be  mistaken  in  his  person,  I  should  have  known  liim,  at 
all  events,  by  his  blanket  coat  and  red  handkerchief" 

This  blunt  statement  of  the  soldier,  confirmed  as  it  was  tlie  instant  after- 
wards 1))'  one  of  his  comrades,  was  damning  proof  against  the  Canadian, 
even  if  the  flicf  of  the  rifle  being  discharged  from  the  front  of  the  hut  liad 
not  already  satisfied  all  parties  of  the  falsehood  of  his  assertion. 

"  CoriK!  forward,  a  couple  of  files,  and  seize  this  villain,"  resumed  the  gov- 
ernor with  his  wonted  sternness  of  manner.     •■  Mr.  Lawson,  see  if  his  hut 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE     F  K  O  P  K  E  C  V  .  59 

(Iocs  not  afford  a  rope  strong  cnougli  to  liau^'  the  traitor  to  one  of  his  own 
apple  tree.s." 

Botli  parties  proceeded  <it  |jjie  same  moment  to  execute  the  two  distinct  or- 
ders of  their  chief.  The  Canadian  -was  now  firml}-  secured  in  the  grasp  of 
the  two  men  who  had  given  evidence  a!i,ainsL  him,  \vhon,  seeinji'  all  the  horror 
(if  the  dreadful  fall'  that  awaited  iuni.  he  confessed  the  individual  who  had 
tired  had  heeu  sitting  witli  him  the  instant  jjveviously,  hut  tliat  he  knew  nO' 
more  of  him  than  of  anji-  other  savage  occasionally^  calling  at  the  Fleiu'  de  Lis. 
He  added,  that  on  discliarging  the  rifle  lie  had  1  )onnded  across  the  palings  of 
tiie  orchard,  and  lied  in  the  direction  of  the  foi'est.  He  denied  all  knowledge 
or  belief  of  an  enemy  waiting  in  ambush ;  stating,  moreover,  even  the  indi- 
vidual in  (luestion  had  not  been  aware  of  the  sortie  of  the  detachment  until 
apprised  nf  tlvir  near  a))pr')a(li  by  the  heavy  soiind  of  the  gun  carriages. 

••  Here  an'  luidrniaiilc  jii-nof-  i>i'  the  man's  villanj',  sir,"  said  tJie  ailjutant, 
returning  li-oni  the  hut  and  exiiibitiug  objects  of  new  and  fearful  interest  to 
the  governor.  •'  This  hat  and  rope  I  found  secreted  in  one  of  the  bed-rooms 
of  the  aubcrge.  The  first  is  evidently  Donellan's  ;  and  from  the  hook  at- 
tached to  the  latter,  I  apprehend  it  to  be  the  same  stated  to  have  been  used 
by  Captain  de  Haldimar  in  crossing  the  ditch." 

The  governor  took  the  hat  and  rope  from  the  hands  of  his  subordinate,  ex- 
amined them  attentively,  and  after  a  few  moments  of  deep  musing,  during 
"svhich  his  coxmteuance  underwent  several  rapid  though  scarcely  perceptible 
changes,  turned  suddenly  and  eagerly  to  the  soldier  who  had  first  convicted 
tlie  Canai-lian  in  his  falsehood,  and  demanded  if  he  had  seen  enough  of  the 
man  who  had  fired  to  be  able  so  give  even  a  general  description  of  his  person . 

'•  Why  )'es,  your  honor,  I  think  I  can  ;  for  the  fellow  stood  long  enough 
after  firing  his  piece,  for  a  painter  to  have  taken  him  oil'  from  head  to  foot. 
He  was  a  taller  and  larger  man  by  far  than  our  l;iggest  grenadier,  and  that  is 
poor  Harry  Donellan,  as  your  honor  knows.  ]^nt  as  for  his  dress,  though  1 
could  see  it  all,  I  scarce!}'  can  tell  how  to  describe  it.  All  I  know  is.  he  wa.-- 
covered  with  smoked  deer  skin,  in  some  such  fashion  as  the  great  chief  Pon- 
teac,  only,  instead  of  having  his  head  bare  and  shaved,  he  w^n-r  :\  sM-piir;  out- 
landish sort  of  a  hat,  covered  over  with  wild  birds'  featli  i  -   i    li  )■.' 

"  Enough,"  interrupted  the  governor,  motioning  the  man  m  i-ikiiLL  ;  then, 
in  an  rinder  tone  to  himself, — '^  by  heaven,  the  very  same."  A  shade  of  dis- 
appointment and  suppressed  alarm  passed  rapidly  across  liis  brow ;  it  was 
^  :  ' :  ■  .  :.'■-.  '•  Captain  Blessington,"  he  ordered  quickly  and  impatiently, 
'.;  and  grounds  for  this  lurking  Indian,  who  is,  no  doubt,  sc- 
,;  ;ighborhood.  Quick,  quick,  sir  ;  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost.'' 
Tlijii  m  an  intimidating  tone  to  the  Canadian,  "who  had  already  dropped  on 
his  knees,  supplicating  mercy,  and  vociferating  his  innocence  in  the  sanu 
breath. — ""So,  you  infernal  scoundrel,  this  is  the  manner  in  A\iiic!i  miu  iiavc 
repaid  om-  confidence.     Where  is  my  son,  sir  ?     Or  have  }'       '  .r- 

dered  him,  as  you  did  liis  servant "?     Tell  me,  you  villain,  wh.  iv- 

say  to  these  proofs  of  jronr  treachery?  But  stay,  I  shall  taivc  anuLiie;  ami 
fitter  opportunity  to  question  you.  Mr.  Lawson,  secure  this  traitor  properly, 
and  let  him  be  conveyed  to  the  centre  of  the  detachment." 

This  mandate  was  promptly  obeyed  ;  and  in  despite  of  his  own  'unceasing 
prayers  and  protestations  of  innocence,  and  the  tears  and  entreaties  of  his 
dark-  eyed  daughter  Babette,  who  had  thrown  herself  on  her  knees  at  his 
side,  the  stout  arms  of  mine  host  of  the  Flcur  de  Lis  wei'e  soon  firmlj''  se- 
cured behind  his  back  -with  the  strong  rope  that  had  been  found  under  such 
suspicious  circumstances  in  his  possession.  Before  he  was  marched  off,  how- 
ever, tvro  of  the  men  who  had  been  sent  in  pursuit,  returned  fi'om  the  orchard, 
stating  that  further  search  was  now  fruitless.  They  hatl  penetrated  througlt 
a  small  thicket  at  the  extremity  of  the  grounds,  and  had  distinctly  seen  a  man 
answering  the  description  given  by  their  comrades,  in  full  flight  towards  the 
forest  skirting  the  heights  in  front. 


s^O  W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,      THE      PROPHECY. 

The  jiovernor  was  evidently  far  from  beiiij;'  satisfied  with  the  result  of  & 
search  too  late  instituted  to  leave  even  a  prospect  of  success.  '■  Where  arc 
tthe  Indians  principally  encamped,  sirrah  '?"  he  sternly  demanded  of  his  cap 
a-,ive  ;  '■  answer  me  trulj^,  or  I  will  carry  off  this  Avench  as  well,  and  if  a  singlt 
*hair  of  a  man  of  mine  be  oven  singed  by  a  shot  from  a  skulking-  enemy,  yoi 
■/may  expect  to  see  her  bayoneted  before  j'our  eyes." 

"  Ah.  my  (rod  !  iNIonsieur  le  Gouverneur."  exclaimed  the  affrighted  auber- 
igiste,  "  as  I  am  an  honest  man,  I  shall  tell  de  truth,  but  spare  my  child. 
'They  are  all  in  de  forest,  and  half  a  mile  from  de  Httle  river  dat  i-nns  between 
■lis  and  the  Pork  Island." 

"  Hog  Island,  I  suppose  you  mean." 

"  Yes  sir,  de  Ilog  Island  is  de  one  I  means." 

"  Conduct  him  to  the  centre,  and  let  him  be  confronted  with  the  prisoner," 
-directed  the  govenor,  addressing  his  adjutant ;  '•  Captain  Blessington,  your 
tmcn  may  resume  their  st.ations  in  the  ranks.  The  order  was  obeyed ;  and 
notwithstanding  the  tears  and  supplications  of  the  now  highly  excited  Babette. 
?ji'ho  flung  herself  upon  his  neck,  and  was  onlj-  removed  by  force,  the  terrified 
hOanadian  was  borne  off  from  his  premises  by  the  troops. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

While  this  scene  was  enacting  in  front  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis,  one  of  a  far 
•more  touching  and  painful  nature  M'as  passing  in  the  very  heart  of  the  detach- 
■.ment  itself.  At  the  moment  when  the  halt  was  ordered  bj*  Captain  Blessing- 
:tou,  a  rumor  ran  through  the  ranks  that  thej^  had  reached  the  spot  destined 
for  the  execution  of  their  ill-fated  comrade.  Those  only  in  the  immediate 
front  were  aware  of  the  true  cause ;  but  although  the  report  of  the  rifle  had 
been  distinctly  heard  b}^  all,  it  had  been  attributed  by  those  in  the  real-  to  the 
jiccidental  discharge  of  one  of  their  own  muskets.  A  low  murmin-.  expressive 
■of  the  opinion  generallj'  ente;i-tained,  passed  graduall}-  from  rear  to  front,  mitil 
it  at  length  reached  the  ears  of  the  delicate  drummer  boy  who  mai-(-hed  l)e- 
hind  the  coffin.  His  face  was  still  buried  in  the  collar  of  his  coat ;  and  wliat 
was  left  uncovered  of  his  features  by  the  cap,  was  in  some  degree  hidden  l)y 
:the  forward  drooping  of  his  head  upon  his  chest.  Hitherto  he  had  moved  al- 
laiost  mechanically  along,  tottering  and  embarrassing  himself  at  everj-  step 
Ttindcr  the  cumbrous  drum  that  was  suspended  from  a  belt  ai-ouud  his  neck 
tover  the  left  thigh ;  but  now  there  was  a  certain  indescribable  drawing  up  of 
ithe  frame,  and  tension  of  the  whole  person,  denoting  a  concentration  of  all  the 
.moral  and  physical  energies  — a  sudden  working  up,  as  it  were,  of  the  intel- 
lectual and  corporeal  "being  to  some  determined  and  momentous  purpose. 

At  the  first  lialt  of  the  detachment,  the  weary  supporters  of  the  coffin  had 
'deposited  their  rude  arid  sombre  burden  upon  the  earth,  ])reparatory  to  its 
'being  resumed  by  those  appointed  to  relieve  them.  The  dull  sound  emitted 
by  the  hollow  fabric,  as  it  touched  the  ground,  caught  the  ear  of  him  for  whom 
iit  was  destinod,  and  he  turned  to  gaze  upon  the  sad  and  lonely  tenement  so 
.>ihortly  to  liecome  his  final  resting  place.  Thci-e  was  an  air  of  calm  composure 
rand  dignified  s'orrow  u.pon  his  broAV,  that  infused  respect  into  the  hearts  of  all 
■who  beheld  liim ;  and  even  the  nien  selected  to  do  the  duty  of  executioners 
sought  to  evade  his  glance,  as  his  steady  eye  wandered  from  right  U)  left  of 
the  ftital  rank.  His  attention,  however,  was  principally  directed  towai'ds  the 
•coffin,  which  lay  before  him  ;  on  this  he  gazed  fixedly  for  ui)wards  of  a  minute. 
He  then  tui-ned  his  eyes  in  the  direction  of  the  fort,  shuddered,  heaved  a  pro- 
found sigh,  and  looking  up  to  heaven,  with  the  apparent  fenor  that  became 
his  situation,  seemed  to  pray  for  a  moment  or  two  inwardly  and  devoutly. 
The  tliiclc  iuid  almost  suifocating  breathing  of  one  imraediatelv  bevond  the 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      1'  U  O  P  II  E  C  V  .  61 

coffin,  was  now  distinctly  hoard  by  ;ill.  Ilallowny  started  iVoni  his  attitude 
of  devotion,  ji-azed  earnestly  on  the  form  whenci'  it  proi'ceded,  and  then  wildly 
extendinj;-  his  anus,  svillered  a  smile  of  satisfaction  to  illiiminr  his  pal?  features. 
All  C3-es  were  now  turned  upon  the  dianumer  buy,  who.  evidently  laboring 
under  convulsive  excitement  of  feelinji',  suddenly  dashed  his  oa[»  and  instrument 
to  the  earth,  and  flew  a,s  fast  as  his  tottering  and  uncertain  steps  would  admit 
across  the  coffin,  and  into  the  arms  extended  to  receive  him. 

••  My  Ellen !  oh,  my  own  devoted,  but  too  unhappy  Ellen !"  passionatcly 
exclaivned  the  soldier,  as  he  clasped  the  slight  and  agitated  form  of  his  dis- 
gui.^ed  wife  to  his  throbbing  heart.  "  This,  this,  indeed,  is  joy  even,  in  death,. 
I  thought  I  eouid  haw  died  more  happily  without  you,  but  nature  tugs  power- 
fulh'  at  niy  iv-arl ;  and  to  see  you  once  more,  to  feel  you  once  more  /lere,"' 
(and  he  jjresscd  her  wildly  to  his  chest.)  ''  is  indeed  a  bliss  that  i-obs  my  ap- 


proae 


fate  of  half  its  terror." 


( >h  lleginald !  my  dearly  beloved  Reginald !  my  min-dercd  husband  !'" 
shrieked  the  unhappy  woman;  "your  Ellen  will  not  smwive  you.  Her  heart 
is  ali'eady  broken,  though  she  cannot  weep;  but  the  same  grave  shall  contain; 
us  l)otli.  Reginald,  do  you  believe  me?  I  swear  it;  the  same  grave  shall  con- 
tain us  botii." 

Exhausted  with  the  fatigue  and  excitement  she  had  midergone,  the  faithful 
and  alfeetionate  creature  now  lay.  without  sense  or  motion,  in  the  arms  of  her 
wi'etched  husband.  Halloway  bore  her,  unopposed,  a  pace  or  two  in  advance, 
and  de})Osited  her  unconscious  form  on  the  fat;il  coffin. 

Xo  language  of  ours  can  render  justice  to  the  trying  character  of  the  scene  . 
Ail  who  witnessed  it  were  painfully  affected,  and  over  the  bronzed  cheek  of 
many  a  ^  eteran  com'sed  a  tear,  which,  like  that  of  Sterne's  recorthng  angel, 
might  ha\e  blotted  out  a  catalogue  of  sins.  Although  each  was  prepared  to* 
expect  a  reprimand  from  the  governor,  for  .suffering  the  prisoner  to  quit  his 
station  in  the  ranks,  humanity  and  nature  pleaded  too  powerfully  in  his  be- 
half and  neither  officer  nor  man  attempted  to  interfere,  unless  with  a  view  to 
render  assistance.  Captain  Erskine,  in  particular,  was  deeply  pained,  and 
would  have  given  anything  to  recal  the  harsh  language  he  had  used  towards 
the  supposed  ifUe  and  inattentive  drummer  boy.  Taking  from  a  pocket  in  his 
uniform  a  small  flask  of  brandy,  which  he  had  provided  against  ca.sualties,  the 
comjiassionating  officer  .slightly  raised  the  head  of  the  pale  and  unconscious 
woman  ^vith  orie  hand,  while  with  the  other  he  introduced  a  few  ch'ops  between 
lier  parted  lips.  Halloway  knelt  at  the  opposite  .side  of  the  coffin ;  one  hand 
searclnug.  but  in  vain,  the  suspended  pulse  of  his  inanimate  wife;  the  other, 
unbuttoning  the  breast  of  the  druui-boy's  jacket,  which,  with  every  other  part 
of  the  e(juipment.  she  wore  beneatli  the  loose  gi-eat  coat  so  effectually  accom- 
pli.shiug  her  di.sguise. 

Such  was  the  position  of  tlie  chief  actors  in  this  truly  distressing-  drama, 
at  the  moment  when  Colonel  de  Haldimar  came  up  with  his  new  prisoner,  to 
mark  what  effect  would  be  produced  on  Halloway  by  his  unexpc(>.ted  appear- 
sncc.  Ilis  own  surprise  and  disappointment  may  be  easily  conceived,  when, 
in  the  form  of  the  re<"umbent  lieing  who  seemed  to  engross  universal  atten- 
tion, lie  recognised,  by  the  fair  and  streaming  hair,  and  half  exposed  bo.som, 
the  unfortiraate  being  whom,  oidy  two  lumis  jirevious'v.  b  'i  ai  <puniedfrom 
his  feet  in  the  costume  of  her  own  S'^x,  and  reduce'!,  li;  l!  ■  -.ioli-nce  of  her 
grief  to  ahnost  infantine  debility.  Question  succeeded  (juestiun  to  those 
around.  Itut  mthout  eliciting  any  clue  to  the  means  by  wh'ch  this  mysterious 
disgui-e  had  been  effected.  No  one  had  been  aware,  mrtil  the  truth  was  so 
singularly  and  suddenly  revealed,  tbr  sn]i]M),<jd  drunimci-  was  any  other  than 
one  of  the  lads  attached  to  the  grenadier,-  ;  and  as  foi-  the  other  facts,  they 
spoke  too  plainly  to  the  comprehension  of  (h-  governor  to  ueed  explanation. 
Once  more,  however,  the  detachment  was  (udled  to  order.  Halloway  struck 
his  Imnd  violently  u])on  liis  brow,  kisseil  the  wan  lips  of  his  still  unconscious 
wife,  breathing,  as  he  did  so,  a  half  murmured  hope  she  might  indeed  be  the 


62  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy. 

corpse  she  appeared.  He  then  raised  himself  from  the  earth  witlia  light  and 
elastic  yet  linn  movement,  and  resumed  the  jjlacc  he  had  pre-viously  occupied, 
where,  to  his  surprise,  he  beheld  a  second  victim  bound,  and,  apparently^  de- 
voted to  the  same  death.  When  the  eyes  of  the  two  unhappy  men  met,  the 
governor  closely  watched  the  expression  of  the  countenance  of  each ;  but 
although  the  Canadian  started  on  beholding  the  soldier,  it  might  he  merely 
because  he  saw  the  latter  arrayed  in  the  garb  of  death,  and  followed  by  the 
most  unequivocal  demonstrations  of  a  doom  to  which  he  himself  was,  in  all 
probability,  devoted.  As  for  Halloway,  his  look  betrayed  neither  conscious- 
ness nor  recognition ;  and  l;hough  too  proud  to  express  complaint  or  to  give 
vent  to  the  feelings  of  his  heart,  his  whole  soul  seemed  to  be  absorbed  in  "the 
unhapijy  partner  of  his  luckless  destiny.  Presently  he  saw  her  borne,  and 
in  the  same  state  of  insensibility,  in  the  arms  of  Captain  Erskine  and  Lieu- 
tenant Leslie,  towards  the  hut  of  his  fellow  prisoner,  and  he  heard  the  former 
officer  enjoin  the  weeping  girl,  Babette,  to  whose  charge  they  delivered  her 
over,  to  pay  every  attention  to  her  her  situation  might  require.  The  detach- 
ment then  proceeded. 

The  narrow  but  deep  and  rapid  river  alluded  to  by  the  Canadian,  as  run- 
ning midway  between  the  town  and  Hog  Island,  derived  its  source  far  within 
the  forest,  and  formed  the  bed  of  one  of  those  wild,  dark,  and  thickly  wooded 
ravines  so  common  in  America.  As  it  neared  the  Detroit,  however,  the  ab- 
ruptness of  its  banks  wa^'  so  considerably  lessened,  as  to  render  the  approach 
to  it  on  the  town  side  over  an  almost  an  imperceptible  slope.  Within  a  few 
yards  of  its  mouth,  as  we  have  already  observed,  a  rude  but  strong  wooden 
bridge,  over  which  lay  the  high  road,  had  been  constructed  by  the  French ; 
and  from  the  centre  of  this,  all  the  circuit  of  intermediate  clearing,  even  to 
the  very  skirt  of  the  forest,  was  distinctly  commanded  by  the  naked  eye. 
To  the  right,  on  approaching  it  from  the  town,  lay  the  adjacent  shores  of 
Canada,  washed  by  the  Ijroad  w.aters  of  the  Detroit,  on  which  it  was  thrown 
into  strong  relief,  and  which,  at  the  distance  of  about  a  mile  in  front,  was 
seen  to  diverge  into  two  distinct  channels,  pursuing  each  a  separate  course, 
until  they  again  met  at  the  western  extremity  of  Hog  Island.  On  the  left, 
and  in  the  front,  rose  a  succession  of  slightly  undulating  hills,  which,  at  a 
distance  of  little  more  than  half  a  mile,  terminated  in  an  elevation  considera- 
bly above  the  immediate  level  of  the  Detroit  side  of  the  ravine.  That,  again, 
was  crowned  with  thick  and  overhanging  forest,  taking  its  circular  sweep 
around  the  fort.  The  intermediate  ground  was  studded  over  with  rude  stumps 
of  trees,  and  bore  in  various  directions,  distmct  proofs  of  the  spoliation 
wrought  among  the  infant  possessions  of  the  murdered  English  settlers.  The 
view  to  the  rear  was  less  open  ;  the  town  being  partially  hidden  by  the  fruit- 
laden  orchards  that  lined  the  intervening  high  road,  and  hung  principally  on 
its  left.  This  was  not  the  case  with  the  fort.  Between  these  orchards  and 
the  distant  forest  lay  a  line  of  open  country,  fully  commanded  by  its  cannon, 
even  to  the  ravine  we  have  described,  and  in  a  sweep  th;it  embraced  every 
thing  from  the  bridge  itself  to  the  forest,  in  which  all  trace  of  its  source  was 
lost. 

When  the  detachment  had  arrived  within  twenty  yards  of  the  bridge,  they 
were  made  to  file  off  to  the  left,  until  the  last  gun  had  come  up.  They  were 
then  fronted  ;  the  rear  section  of  Captain  Erskine's  company  resting  on  the 
road,  and  the  left  flank,  covered  bj^  the  two  first  guns  pointed  obliquely,  both 
in  front  and  rear,  to  guard  against  surprise,  in  the  event  of  any  of  the  Indians 
stealing  round  to  the  cover  of  the  orchards.  The  route  b}'  whicli  they  had 
approached  this  spot  was  upwards  of  two  miles  in  extent ;  but,  iis  they  now 
■filed  otf  into  the  open  ground,  the  lesiding  sections  observed,  hr  a  direct  line 
over  the  cleared  countr3%  and  at  the  distance  of  little  more  than  three  quar- 
ters of  a  mile,  the  dark  r.araparts  of  the  fortress  that  contained  their  comrades, 
and  could  even  distinguish  the  uniforms  of  the  officers  and  men  drawn  up  in 


wacovsta;  or,  the  prophecy.       f>3 

lino  along  the  works,  where  they  were  evidently  assembled  to  witiies.s  tlie 
execution  of  tlie  sentence  on  Ilalloway. 

Sncli  a  sight  as  that  of  the  Ilnglish  so  far  from  their  fort,  was  not  likely  to 
escape  the  notice  of  the  Indians.  Tlieir  encampment,  as  the  Canadian  had 
truly  stated  lay  Avithin  the  foi'cst,  and  beyond  the  elevated  ground  already 
alluded  to ;  and  to  have  crossed  the  ravine,  or  ventured  out  of  reach  of  the 
C4iunon  of  the  fort,  would  have  been  to  seal  the  destruction  of  the  detach- 
ment. But  the  ofhcer  to  whom  their  security  was  entrusted,  although  he  had 
his  own  particular  views  for  venturing  thus  far,  knew  also  at  what  point  to 
stop ;  and  such  was  the  confidence  of  his  men  in  his  skill  and  prudence,  they 
would  have  feai-lessly  followed  wherever  he  might  have  chosen  to  lead.  Still, 
even  amid  all  the  solemnity  of  pvepai-ation  attendant  on  the  duty  they  Avere 
out  to  perform,  tliere  was  a  natural  and  secret  apprehensiveness  about  each, 
that  caused  him  to  cast  his  eyes  frequently  and  tixedlj^  on  that  part  of  the 
forest  Avhich  was  known  to  afford  cover  to  their  merciless  foes.  At  times  they 
fancied  they  beheld  the  dark  and  flitting  forms  of  men  gliding  from  tree  to 
tree  along  the  skirt  of  the  wood ;  but  when  they  gazed  again,  nothing  of  the 
kind  was  to  be  seen,  and  the  illusion  was  at  once  ascribed  to  the  heavy  state 
of  the  atmosphere,  and  the  action  of  theu*  own  precautionary  instincts. 

Meanwhile  the  solemn  tragedy  of  death  was  preparing  in  mom'nful  silence. 
On  the  centre  of  the  bridge,  and  visible  to  those  even  within  the  fort,  was 
placed  the  coffin  of  Ilalloway,  and  at  twelve  paces  in  front  were  drav.n  up 
the  six  rank  and  file  on  whom  had  devolved,  by  lot,  the  cruel  duty  of  the 
day.  With  calm  and  fearless  eye  the  prisoner  surveyed  the  preparation-^  for 
his  approaching  end;  and  whatever  might' be  the  inward  workings  of  liis 
mind,  there  was  not  among  the  assembled  soldiery  one  individual  whose 
counteuance  betrayed  so  little  of  soitow  and  emotion  as  his  ov/n.  With  a 
firm  step,  when  summoned,  he  moved  towards  the  fatal  coffin,  dashing  his 
cap  to  the  earth  as  he  advanced,  and  baring  his  chest  with  the  characteristic 
contempt  of  death  of  the  soldier.  When  he  had  reached  the  centre  of  the 
bridge,  he  turned  facing  his  comrades,  and  knelt  upon  the  coffin.  Captain 
Blessington,  who,  permitted  by  the  governor,  had  followed  him  with  a  sad 
heart  and  heavy  step,  now  drew  a  prayer-book  from  his  pocket,  and  read 
from  it  in  a  low  voice.  He  then  closed  the  volume,  listened  to  something  the 
prisoner  earnestly  communicated  to  him,  received  a  small  packet  v/hich  he 
drew  from  the  bosom  of  his  shirt,  shook  him  long  and  cordially  by  the  hand, 
and  then  hastily  resumed  his  post  at  the  head  of  the  detachment. 

The  principal  inhabitants  of  the  village,  led  by  curiosity,  had  followed  at  a 
distance  to  witness  the  execution  of  the  condemned  soldier  ;  and  above  the 
heads  of  the  line,  and  crowning  the  slope,  were  coll'ected  groups  of  both  sexes 
and  of  all  ages,  that  gave  a  still  more  imposing  character  to  the  scene.  Every 
eye  was  now  turned  upon  the  firing  party,  who  only  awaited  the  signal  to  ex- 
ecute their  melancholy  office,  when  suddenly,  in  the  direction  of  the  forest, 
and  upon  the  extreme  height,  there  burst  the  tremendous  and  deafening 
yeUs  of  more  than  a  thousand  savages.  For  an  instant  Halloway  was  for- 
gotten in  the  instinctive  sense  of  individual  danger,,  and  all  gazed  eagerly  to 
ascertain  the  movements  of  their  enemy.  Presently  a  man,  naked  to  the 
waist,  his  body  and  face  besmeared  with  streaks  of  black  and  red  ]iaint.  and 
his  v.'hole  attitude  expi'cssing  despair  and  horror,  was  seen  flying  down  the 
height  with  a  rapidity  proportioned  to  the  extreme  peril  in  which  he  stood.- 
At  about  fifty  paces  in  his  rear  followed  a  dozen  bounding,  screaming  In- 
dians, armed  with  uplifted  tomahavrks,  whose  anxiety  in  pursuit  lent  them  a 
speed  that  even  surpassed  the  efforts  of  flight  itself.  It  was  evident  the  ob- 
ject of  the  pursued  was  to  reach  the  detachment,  that  of  the  pursuers  to  pre- 
vent him.  The  struggle  was  maintained  for  a  few  moments  with  equahty, 
but  in  the  end  the  latter  were  triumphant,  and  at  each  step  the  distance  that 
separated  them  became  less.  At  the  first  alarm,  the  attachment,  with  the 
exception  of  the  firing  party,  who  still  occupied  their  ground,  had  been  tlu-own 


64       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy, 

into  square,  and,  with  a  gun  planted  in  oacli  angle,  awaited  the  attaclv  mo- 
mentarily expected.  But  altliough  the  heights  were  now  alive  with  the  dusky 
forms  of  naked  warriors,  who,  fro)n  tlie  skirt  of  the  forest,  watched  the  ex- 
ertions of  their  fellows,  the  pursuit  of  the  wretched  fugitive  was  confined  to 
these  alone.  Foremost  of  the  latter,  and  distinguished  bv  his  violent  exer- 
tions and  fiendish  cries,  was  the  tall  and  wildly'attired  warrior  of  the  Plenr 
de  Lis.  At  every  bound  he  gained  upon  his  ^^ctim.  Already  were  they  de- 
scending the  nearest  of  the  undulating  hills,  and  both  now  became  conspicu- 
ous to  all  around  ;  but  principally  the  pursuer,  wliose  gigantic  frame  and  ex- 
traordinary speed  riveted  every  eye.  even  while  the  interest  of  all  was  ex- 
cited for  the  wretched  fugitive  alone. 

At  that  moment  Halloway,  Avho  had  been  gazing  oil  the  scene  ^vith  an  as- 
tonishment little  inferior  to  that  of  his  comrades,  sprang  suddenly  to  his  feet 
upon  the  coffin,  and  waving  his  hand  in  the  <lirection  of  the  pursuing  enemy, 
shouted  aloud  in  a  voice  of  mingled  joy  and  triumpli, — 

"  Ha  !  Almighty  God,  I  thank  thee  !  Here,  here  comes  one  who  alone  has 
the  poiver  to  snatch  me  from  my  impending  doom." 

"  By  Heaven,  the  traitor  confesses,  and  jtresumes  to  triumph  in  his  guilt." 
exclaimed  the  voice  of  one,  who.  while  closely  attending  to  every  movement  of 
the  Indians,  was  also  vigilantly  M-atching  tlsc  oil'ect  likely  to  be  produced  on 
the  prisoner  by  this  unexpected  interruittion.     •■  Corporal,  do  your  duty." 

"  Stav";  sta}- — one  moment  stay  !"  implored  Halloway  with  uplifted  hands. 

"  Do  your  duty,  sir,"  fiercely  repeated  the  governor. 

"  Oh  stop — for  (jlod's  sake,  stop  !  Anotlier  moment  and  lie  will  be  here, 
and  I " 

He  said  no  more — a  dozen  bullets  })cneti-ated  his  Ijody — one  passed  du-ectly 
through  his  heart.  He  leaped  several  feet  in  the  air,  and  then  fell  heavily,  a 
lifeless  bleeding  corpse,  across  the  coflin. 

Meanwhile  the  pursuit  of  the  fugitive  was  continued,  but  bj^  the  warrior  of 
the  Flenr  de  Lis  alone.  Aware  of  their  inetliciency  to  keep  pace  with  this  sin- 
gular being,  his  companions  had  relinquished  the  chase,  and  now  stood  resting 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill  where  the  wretched  Halloway  had  first  recognised 
his  supposed  deliverer,  watching  eagepl3^  thougli  within  musket  shot  of  the 
detachment,  the  result  of  a  race  on  which  so  much  apparently  depended. 
Neither  party,  however,  attempted  to  interfere  with  the  other,  for  all  eyes 
were  now  turned  on  the  flying  man  and  his  pursuer  with  an  interest  that  de- 
noted the  exti'Hordinary  efforts  of  the  one  to  evade  and  the  other  to  attain 
the  accomplishment  of  his  object.  The  immediate  course  taken  was  in  a 
direct  line  for  tlie  ravine,  which  it  evidently  was  the  object  of  the  fugitive  to 
clear  at  its  nearest  point.  Already  had  he  approached  within  a  few  paces  of 
its  brink,  and  every  eye  was  fastened  on  the  point  where  if  was  expected  the 
doubtful  leap  would  be  taken,  when  suddenly,  as  if  despairing  to  accomplish 
it  at  a  bound,  he  tiu-ned  to  tlie  left,  and  winding  along  its  bank,  rencAved  his 
efforts  in  the  direction  of  the  bridge.  This  movement  occasioned  a  change  in 
the  position  of  the  parties,  Avhicli  was  fixvorable  to  the  pursued.  Hitherto 
they  liad  been  so  innnediately  on  a  line  with  each  other,  it  was  impossible  for 
thedetachmi-nt  to  bring  a  musket  to  bear  upon  the  warrioi-.  without  endan- 
gei'ing  hin\  whose  life  they  wvve  anxious  ti)  preserve.  For  a  moment  or  two 
his  bodv  was  l;;irlv  ex)H)se(l,  and  a  dozen  muskets  were  discharged  at  intervals 
from  the  square,  but  all  without  success.  Recovering  his  lost  ground,  he  soon 
brought  the  j)ursued  again  in  a  lino  between  hirnself  and  the  detachment, 
edging  j-apidly  nearer  to  him  as  he  advanced,  and  uttering  terrific  yells,  that 
were  echoed  back  from  his  companions  on  the  brow  of  tlie  hill.  It  was  evi- 
dent. ho^vever.  his  object  was  the  re-capture,  not  the  desti'uction,  of  the  fly- 
ing man,  fur  more  than  once  did  he  brandish  his  menacing  tomahawk  in 
rapid  sweeps  around  his  head,  as  if  preparing  to  dart  it,  and  as  often  did  he 
check  the  movement.  The  .scene  at  each  succeeding  moment  became  more 
critical  and  intensely  interesting.     'I'he  sfren^tli  of  the   pursued   was  now 


^\^  A  c  o  u  s  X  A  ;     on,    t  ii  k    p  li  o  iMi  e  c  y  .  65 

nearly  e:vh;ui.-tt.\l,  whik'  tliai  of  his  formidable  enemy  seemed  to  suiter  no 
diminution.  Leap  after  leap  he  took  with  fearful  superiority,  sideling  as  he 
advanced.  Alread}-  had  he  closed  upon  his  victim,  while  with  a  springing 
efibrt  a  large  and  bony  hand  was  extended  to  secure  his  shoulder  in  his  grasp. 
The  elibrt  was  fatal  to  liim ;  for  in  reaching  too  far  he  lost  his  balance,  and 
fell  heavily  upon  the  sward.  A  shout  of  exultation  burst  .from  the  English 
troops,  and  numerous  voices  now  encouraged  the  pursued  to  renew  his  exer- 
tions. The  advice  was  not  lost ;  and  although  only  a  few  seconds  had  elaps- 
ed between  the  fall  and  recovery  of  his  pursuer,  the  wretched  fugitive  had 
already  greatly  increased  the  distance  that  separated  them.  A  cry  of  savage 
rage  and  disappointment  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  gigantic  warrior ;  and  con- 
centrating all  his  remaining  strength  and  speed  into  one  final  effort,  he  bound- 
ed and  leapt  like  a  deer  in  the  forest  whence  he  came.  The  opportunity  for 
re-capture,  however,  had  been  lost  in  his  fall,  for  already  the  pursued  was 
•within  a  few  feet  of  the  high  road,  and  on  the  point  of  turning  the  extremi- 
ty of  the  bridge.  One  onl}'  resource  was  now  left :  the  warrior  suddenly 
checked  himself  in  his  course,  and  remainetl  stationary ;  then  raising  and 
dropping  liis  glittering  weapon  several  times  in  a  balancing  position,  he 
waited  until  the  pursued  had  gained  the  highest  point  of  the  open  bridge.  At 
that  moment  the  glittering  steel,  aimed  with  singular  accuracy  and  precision, 
flew  whistling  through  the  air,  and  with  such  velocity  of  movement  as  to  be 
almost  invisible  to  the  eyes  of  those  who  attempted  to  follow  it  in  its  threat- 
ening course.  xVll  expected  to  see  it  enter  into  the  brain  against  wluch  it  had 
been  directed ;  but  the  fugitive  had  marked  the  movement  in  time  to  save 
timsclf  by  stooping  low  to  the  earth,  while  the  weapon,  passing  over  him,  en- 
tered with  a  deadly  and  crashing  sound  into  the  brain  of  the  weltermg  corpse. 
This  danger  passed,  he  sprang  once  more  to  his  feet,  nor  paused  again  in  his 
flight  until,  faint  and  exhausted,  he  sank  without  motion  under  the  very  bay- 
onets of  the  firing  party. 

A  new  direction  was  now  given  to  the  interest  of  the  assembled  and  dis- 
tinct crowds  that  had  witnessed  these  startling  incidents.  Scarcely  had  the 
wretched  man  gained  the  protection  of  the  soldiery,  when  a  shriek  divided  the 
an-,  so  wild,  so  piercing,  and  so  unearthly,  that  even  the  warrior  of  the  Fleur 
de  Lis  seemed  to  lose  sight  of  his  -N-ictim  in  the  harrowing  interest  produced  by 
that  dreadful  scream.  All  turned  their  eyes  for  a  moment  in  the  quarter 
■whence  it  proceeded ;  v\-hen  presently,  from  beliind  the  groups  of  Canachans 
crowning  the  slope,  was  seen  flying,  with  the  rapidity  of  thought,  one  who 
resembled  rather  a  spectre  than  a  being  of  earth  ; — it  was  the  wife  of  Jlallo- 
•way.  Her  long  fair  hair  was  wild  and  streaming — her  feet,  and  legs,  and 
arms  were  naked — and  one  solitary  and  scanty  garment  displayed  rather  than 
concealed  the  S3'mmetry  of  her  delicate  person.  She  flew  to  the  fatal  bridge, 
threw  herself  on  the  body  of  her  bleeding  husband,  and  impi-inting  her  warm 
kisses  on  his  bloody  lips,  for  a  moment  or  two  presented  the  image  of  one 
whose  reason  has  fled  for  ever.  Suddenly  she  started  from  the  eartli ;  her 
face,  her  hands,  and  her  garments  so  saturated  -with  the  blood  of  her  husband, 
that  a  feeling  of  horror  crept  throughout  the  veins  of  all  who  beheld  her. 
She  stood  upon  the  coffin,  and  across  the  corpse — raised  her  eyes  and  hands 
imploringh-  to  Heaven — and  then,  in  accents  wilder  even  than  her  words,  ut- 
tered an  imprecation  that  sounded  like  the  prophetic  warning  of  some  unholy 
spirit. 

"  Inhuman  murderer !"  she  exclaimed,  in  tones  that  almost  paralj'zed  the 
ears  on  which  it  fell,  '•  if  there  be  a  God  of  justice  and  of  truth,  he  Avill 
avenge  this  de\Tlish  deed.  Yes,  Colonel  de  Haldimar,  a  prophetic  voice  whis- 
pers to  my  soul,  that  even  as  I  have  seen  perish  before  my  eyes  all  that  I 
loved  on  earth,  without  mercy  and  without  hope,  so  even  shall  you  witness 
the  destruction  of  your  accursed  race.  Here — here — here,"  and  she  pointed 
downwards,  with  singular  energy  of  action,  to  the  corjjse  of  her  luisbaud. 
'•  here  shall  their  blood  How  till  every  vestige  of  his  own  is  wa.slied  away,  and 
5 


66  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

oh,  if  there  be  spared  one  brancli  of  thy  detested  family,  may  it  be  only 
that  they  may  be  reserved  for  some  death  too  horrible  to  be  conceived ! " 

Overcome  by  the  frantic  energy  with  which  she  had  uttered  these  appalling 
words,  she  sank  backwards,  and  fell,  uttering  another  shriek,  into  the  arms 
of  the  warrior  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis,  who  bore  off  his  prize  in  triumph,  and  fled, 
with  nearly  the  same  expedition  he  had  previously  manifested,  in  the  direction 
of  the  forest,  before  any  one  could  recover  sufficiently  from  the  effect  of  the 
scene  to  think  even  of  interfering. 


CHAPTER  X. 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  that  day,  so  fertile  in  melancholy  incident,  to 
which  the  previous  pages  have  been  devoted,  that  the  draw-bridge  of  Detroit 
Was,  for  the  third  time  since  the  investment  of  the  garrison,  lowered ;  not  as 
previously,  with  a  disregard  of  the  intimation  that  might  be  given  to  those 
without  by  the  sullen  and  echoing  rattle  of  its  ponderous  chains,  but  with  a 
caution  attesting  how  much  secresy  of  purpose  was  sought  to  be  preserved. 
There  was,  however,  no  array  of  armed  men  within  the  walls,  that  denoted 
an  expedition  of  a  hostile  character.  Overcome  with  the  harassing  duties  of 
the  day,  the  chief  portion  of  the  troops  had  retired  to  rest,  and  a  few  groups 
of  the  guard  alone  were  to  be  seen  walking  up  and  down  in  front  of  their 
post,  apparently  with  a  view  to  check  the  influence  of  midnight  drowsiness, 
but,  in  reality,  to  witness  the  result  of  certain  preparations  going  on  by  torch- 
light in  the  centre  of  the  barrack  square. 

In  the  midst  of  an  anxious  group  of  officers,  comprising  nearly  all  of  that 
rank  within  the  fort,  stood  two  individuals,  attired  in  a  costume  having  noth- 
ing in  common  with  the  gay  and  martial  habiliments  of  the  former.  They 
were  tall,  handsome  young  men,  whose  native,  elegance  of  carriage  was  but 
imperfectly  hidden  under  an  equipment  evidently  adopted  for,  and  otherwise 
fully  answering,  the  purpose  of  disguise.  A  blue  cotton  shell  jacket,  closely 
fitting  to  the  person,  trowsers  of  the  same  material,  a  pair  of  strong  deer- 
skin moccasins,  and  a  colored  liandkerchief  tied  loosely  round  the  collav  of  a 
checked  shirt,  the  whole  surmounted  b}^  a  rough  blanket  coat,  forming  the 
principal  portion  of  their  garli.  Each,  moreover,  wore  a  false  qzieue  of  about 
nine  inches  in  length,  the  effect  of  which  was  completely  to  change  the  char- 
acter of  the  countenance,  and  render  to  the  features  a  Canadian-like  expres- 
sion. A  red  worsted  cap,  resembling  a  bonnet  dc  nuit,  Avas  thrown  carelessly 
over  the  side  of  the  head,  which  could,  at  any  moment,  when  deeper  disguise 
should  be  deemed  necessary,  command  the  additional  protection  of  the  rude 
hood  that  fell  back  upon  the  shoulders  from  the  collar  of  tlie  coat  to  which  it 
was  attached.  Into  a  broad  belt,  that  encircled  tlic  jacket  of  each,  were  thrust 
a  brace  of  pistols  and  a  strong  dagger  ;  the  whole  so  disposed,  however,  as  to 
be  invisible  when  the  outer  garment  was  closed  :  this,  again,  was  confined  by 
a  rude  sash  of  worsted  of  difterent  colors,  not  imlike,  in  texture  and  quality, 
what  is  worn  by  our  sergeants  at  the  present  day.  They  were  otherwise 
armed,  however,  and  in  a  less  secret  manner.  Across  the  right  shoulder  of 
each  w!us  thrown  a  belt  of  worsted  also,  to  which  were  attached  a  rude  pow- 
der-horn and  shot-pouch,  with  a  few  straggling  bullets,  placed  there  as  if 
rather  by  accident  than  design.  Each  held  carelessly  in  his  left  hand,  and 
with  its  butt  resting  on  the  earth,  a  long  gun ;  completing  an  appearance,  the 
attainment  of  wliich  had,  in  all  probability,  been  sedulously  sought.— .that  of 
a  Canadian  duck-hunter. 

A  metamorphosis  so  ludicrously  operated  in  the  usually  elegant  costume  of 
two  young  English  officers, — for  such  thej- were, — might  have  been  expected  to 
afford  scope  to  the  pleasantry  of  their  companions,  and  to  call  forth  those  sal- 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.       6T 

lies  whioh  tlie  intiniary  of  friendship  and  the  freemasonry  of  the  profession 
would  have  fiilly  justified.  But  the  events  that  had  occured  in  such  rapid 
succession,  since  the  preceding  midnight,  were  still  painfully  impressed  on  the 
recollection  of  all,  and  some  there  were  who  looked  as  if  they  never  would 
smile  again ;  neither  laugh  nor  jeering,  therefore,  escaped  the  lips  of  one  of 
the  surrounding  group.  Every  countenance  wore  a  cast  of  thought, — a  char- 
acter of  abstraction,  ill  suited  to  the  indulgence  of  levity ;  and  the  little  con- 
versation that  passed  between  them  was  in  a  low  and  serious  tone.  It  was 
evident  some  powerful  and  absorbing  dread  existed  in  the  mind  of  each,  in- 
ducing hini  rather  to  indulge  in  communion  with  his  own  thoughts  and  im- 
pressions, than  to  communicate  them  to  others.  Even'the  governor  himself 
had,  for  a  moment,  put  oft"  his  usual  distance,  to  assume  an  air  of  unfeigned 
concern,  and  it  might  be,  dejection,  contrasting  strongly  with  his  habitual 
liaughtiness.  Hitherto  he  had  been  walking  to  and  fro,  a  little  apart  fiom  the 
group,  and  with  a  hurriedness  and  indecision  of  movement  that  betrayed  to 
all  the  extreme  agitation  of  his  mind.  For  once,  however,  he  appeared  to  be, 
if  not  insensible  to  observation,  inditterent  to  whatever  comments  might  be 
formed  or  expressed  by  those  who  witnessed  his  emotion.  Ho  was  at  length 
interrupted  by  the  adjutant,  who  communicated  something  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Let  him  be  brought  iip,  Mr.  Lawson."  was  the  reply.  Then  advancing- 
into  the  heart  of  the  group,  and  addressing  the  two  adventurers,  he  enquired, 
in  a  tone  that  startled  from  its  singular  mildness,  •'  if  they  were  provided  with 
everything  they  required." 

An  affirmative  reply  was  given,  when  the  governor,  taking  the  taller  of  the 
young  m.eu  aside,  conversed  with  him  earnestly,  and  in  a  tone  of  affection 
strangely  blended  with  despondency.  The  interview,  however,  was  short,  for 
Mr.  Lawson  now  made  his  appearance,  conducting  an  individual  who  has  al- 
ready been  introduced  to  our  readers.  It  was  the  Canadian  of  the  Fleur  de 
Lis.   The  adjutant  placed  a  small  wooden  crucifix  in  the  hands  of  the  governor. 

"  Frani;ois,"  said  the  latter,  impressively,  "you  know  the  terms  on  which  I 
have  consented  to  spare  j^our  life.  Swear,  then,  by  this  cross  ;  that  you  will 
be  faithful  to  your  trust ;  that  neither  treachery  nor  evasion  shall  be  practised ; 
and  that  you  will  to  the  utmost  of  your  power,  aid  in  conveying  these  gentle- 
men to  their  destination.     Kneel  and  swear  it." 

"  I  do  swear  it !"  fervently  repeated  the  aubergiste,  kneeling  and  imprinting 
his  lips  mth  becoming  reverence  on  the  symbol  of  martyrdom.  "  T  swear  to 
do  dat  1  shall  engage,  and  may  de  bon  Dieu  have  merc}^  to  my  soul  as  I  shall 
fulfil  my  oat." 

"  Amen,"  pronounced  the  governor.  '■  and  may  Heaven  deal  by  you  even  as 
you  deal  by  us.  Bear  in  mind,  moreover,  that  as  your  treachery  will  be  pun- 
ished, so  also  shall  your  fidelity  be  rewarded.  But  the  night  wears  apace,  and 
ye  have  much  to  do."  Then  tuinlii':;-  to  tlie  young  officers  who  were  to  be  his 
companions, — "God  bless  3-ou  I'lth;  niay  your  enterprise  be  successful !  I 
fear,"  otfering  his  hand  to  the  }<>un-er,  "  !  have  spoken  harshly  to  you,  but 
at  a  moment  like  the  present  you  will  no  longer  cherish  a  recollection  of  the 
unpleasant  past." 

The  only  answer  was  a  cordial  return  of  his  own  presure.  The  Canadian 
in  his  turn  now  announced  the  necessity  for  instant  departure,  when  the  young 
men,  following  his  example,  threw  their  long  guns  carelessly  over  the  left 
shoulder.  Low.  rai)id.  ami  fervent  adieux  were  uttered  on  both  sides ;  and  al- 
though the  hands  of  the  separating  jiarties  met  only  in  a  short  and  hurried 
grasp,  there  was  an  expression  in  the  touch  of  each  that  spoke  to  their  several 
hearts  long  after  the  separation  h:id  actually  taken  place. 

"  Stay  one  moment  1"  exclaimed  a  voice,  as  the  little  party  now  moved  to- 
wards the  gate-way;  "ye  are  both  gallantly  enough  provided  without,  but 
have  forgotten  there  is  something  quite  as  necessary  to  sustain  the  inward 
man.  Duck  shooting,  you  know,  is  wet  work.  The  last  lips  that  were 
moistejied  from  this,"  lie  proceeded,  as  the  younger  of  the  disguised  men  threw 


68    '    wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

the  strap  of  the  proiTered  canteen  o^■el•  liis  shoulder,  "  were  those  of  poor  Ellen 
Halloway." 

The  mention  of  that  name,  so  lieedlessly  pronounced  by  the  brave  but  in- 
considerate Erskine,  produced  a  startling  effect  on  the  taller  of  the  departing 
officers.  He  struck  his  brow  violeutlj^  with  his  hand,  uttered  a  faint  groan, 
and  bending  his  head  upon  his  chest,  stood  in  an  attitude  expressive  of  the 
deep  suffering  of  his  mind.  The  governor,  too,  appeared  agitated  :  and  sounds 
like  those  of  suppressed  sobs  came  from  one  who  lingered  at  the  side  of  liim 
who  had  accepted  the  offer  of  the  canteen.  The  remainder  of  the  officers  pre- 
served a  deej)  and  mournful  silence. 

"It  is  times  dat  \fe  should^start."  again  observed  the  Canadian,  "or  we 
shall  be  taken  by  de  daylight  be^qrii  we  can  clear  de  river." 

This  intimation  once  more  aroused  the  slumbering  energies  of  the  taller  of- 
ficer. Again  he  drew  up  his  commanding  figure,  extended  his  hand  to  the 
governor  in  silence,  and  turning  abruptly  round,  hastened  to  follow  close  Jh 
the  footsteps  of  his  conductor. 

"  You  ^■,'ill  not  forget  all  I  have  said  to  you,"  whispered  the  voice  of  one 
rrho  had  reservc-i  his  parting  for  the  last,  and  Avho  now  held  the  hand  of  the 
3-ounger  adventurer  closely  clasped  within  his  own.  "  Think,  oh,  tliink  how 
.  much  depends  on  tlie  event  of  your  dangerous  enterprise." 

"  When  you  behold  me  again,"  was  the  reply,  '•  it  will  be  with  smiles  on 
my  lip  and  gladness  in  my  heart ;  for  if  we  fail,  there  is  that  which  whispers 
1  shall  never  see  you  more.  But  keep  up  your  spirits  and  hope  for  the  best. 
•We  erabarlc  under  cheerless  auspices,  it  is  true ;  but  let  us  trust  to  ProAidence 
for  success  in  so  good  a  cause, — God  bless  you  !" 

In  the  next  minute  he  had  joined  his  companions;  who,  with  light  and 
iioiseless  tread,  were  already  pursuing  their  way  along  the  military  road  that 
led  to  the  eastern  extronity  of  the  town.  Soon  afterwards  the  heavy  chains 
.of  the  drawbridge  were  heard  grating  on  the  ear,  in  despite  of  the  evident  cau- 
tion used  in  restoring  it  to  its  wonted  position,  and  all  again  was  still. 

It  had  at  first  been  suggested  their  course  should  be  held  in  an  angular 
direction  across  the  cleared  country  alluded  to  in  our  last  chapter,  in  order  to 
avoid  all  chance  of  recognit  ion  in  the  town  ;  but  as  this  might  have  led  them 
into  more  dangerous  contact  with  some  of  the  outlying  parties  of  Indians,  who 
Trvere  known  to  prowl  around  the  fort  at  night,  this  plan  had  been  abandoned 
for  the  more  circaitous  and  safe  passage  by  the  village.  Thi-ougli  this  our 
little  party  now  pursued  their  way,  and  without  encountering  aught  to  im- 
pede their  progress.  The  simple  mannered  inhabitants  had  long  since  retired 
■to_  rest,  and  neither  light  nor  sound  denoted  the  existence  of  man  or  beast 
within  its  j)recincts.  At  length  they  reached  that  part  of  the  road  which 
turned  off  abruptly  in  the  direction  of  the  Flcur  do  Lis.  The  rude  hut  threw 
its  darl;  shadows  across  their  path,  but  all  Avas  still  and  deathlike  as  in  the 
village  they  had  just  quitted.  Presently,  however,  as  they  drew  nearer,  tiwy 
beheld,  reiiected  from  one  of  the  iipper  windows,  a  faint  light  that  fell  upon 
the  ground  immediately  in  front  of  the  auberge ;  and,  at  intervals,  the  figm-e 
of  a  human  being  approaching  and  receding  from  it  as  if  in  the  act  of  pacing 
the  apartment. 

An  instinctive  feeling  of  danger  rose  at  the  same  moment  to  the  hearts  of 
the  young  officers ;  and  each,  obeymg  the  same  impulse,  unfastened  one  of 
tlie  large  horn  buttons  of  his  blanket  coat,  and  thrust- his  right  hand  into  the 
-opening. 

'•  Franvois,  recollect  your  oath,"  hastily  aspirated  the  elder  as  he  grasped 
the  hand  of  their  conductor  ratlier  in  supplication  than  in  threat ;  "  if  there  be 
aught  to  harm  us  here,  your  own  life  ^vill  most  assm-edly  pay  the  forfeit  of 
-youi-  faith." 

"It  is  nothing  but -a  Avoman,"  calmly  retm-ned  the  Canadian;  '"it  is  my 
Babette  who  is  sorry  at  ;ay  loss'     But  I  shall  come  and  tell  you  directly."  ' 

.Tie  t]i«i  stole  gently  round  the  corner  of  the  hut.  Iwwing  his  anxioiis'ooui- 


^V  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     T  H  E     V  II  O  P  il  E  C  Y  ,  09 

panions  in  the  rwiv  of  the  livilc  building,  and  ('Oinpletel_y  viilod  in  tlie  obsciuity 
prodiu'cd  by  tlio  mingling'  shiidows  of  the  hut  itself,  and  a  fevr  tall  pcai-  trees 
that  overhung  the  paling  of  the  orchard  at  some  j-ards  from  the  spot  ou  which 
they  stood. 

The}'-  waited  some  mirnites  to  hear  the  result  of  the  Canadian's  admittance 
into  his  dwelling;  but  although  each  with  suppressed  breathing  sought  to 
catch  those  sounds  of  welcome  with  v/hicli  a  daughter  miiiht  be  supposed  to 
greet  a  parent  so  unexpectedly  restored,  they  listened  ni  vain.  At  length, 
however,  while  tho  ears  of  both  were  ou  tlie  rack  to  drink  in  the  tones  of  a 
human  voir  ■  .ted  ou  the  hushed  air,  and  all  again  was  still. 

'•  Good  I"  1  r  of  tlie  Oilicors  ;  "  that  Scream  is  sweeter  to 

my  ears  tlia.i    ■  -.s  of  a  woman's  love.     It  is  evident  the  ordi- 

nary tones  of  speech  ca)niot  lind  their  way  to  us  here  from  the  front  of  the 
hut.  The  faintuess  of  yon  cry,  which  ^vas  unquestionably  that  of  a  female, 
is  a  convincing  proof  of  it." 

•'  Hist !"  urged  his  companion,  in  tlie  same  almost  inondible  wlusper.  "what 
sound  was  tliat  ?" 

]]o(h  a:i:iiii  Iistvni.-d  alteiitivi'iy.  whin  1h>'  noise  was  repeuti  '.  1:  i:;;i!0 
from  the  uivi:;;r>l.  und  r.st".nii!LMl  tlw  suc-r,'!  ;, reduced  bythei'::n'i  ,  •  i  i;  m.' 
rotten  stici.:s  and  leaves  uii'ler  the  (Mulious  )mc  unavoidably  rem'.'..;.  :;. .  '■  '■■:" 
a  human  foot.  At  uitervals  it  ceased,  as  if  the  person  treadinL'  i  r;  ;  ;;t 
his  own  noise,  was  apprehensive  of  betraying  his  approach;  ai;<i        i;  i,- 

menced,  only  to  be  checked  in  the  same  manner.  Finally  itceas^ii  aiLo;.,.  iw..r. 
For  upwards  of  five  minutes  the  young  men  continued  to  listen  for  a  renewal 
of  the  sound,  but  nothing  was  now  audible,  save  the  short  and  fitful  gusts  <>f 
a  rising  vrind  among  the  trees  of  the  orchard. 

■'  It  must  have  been  some  wild  animal  in  search  of  its  prey,"  again  whis- 
pered the  younger  officer ;  "  had  it  been  a  man,  we  should  have  heard  him  leap 
the  pahng  before  this." 

''  .By  Heaven,  we  are  betraj^cd, — here  he  is,"  quickly  rejoined  the  other,  in 
the  same  low  tone.  "  Keep  close  to  the  hut,  and  stand  behind  me.  If  my 
dagger  fail,  j-ou  must  try  your  own.  But  fire  not,  on  your  Ufe.  unless  there 
be  more  than  two,  for  the  report  of  a  pistol  will  be  the  destruction  of  our- 
.seives.  and  ;dl  that  arc  dear  to  us."  P]acli  with  uplifted  arm  now  stood  ready 
to  strike,  even  while  his  heart  throbbed  with  a  sense  of  danger,  that  had  far 
more  than  the  mere  dread  of  personal  suffering  or  death  to  sthnulate  to  exer- 
tion in  self-defence.  Footsteps  were  now  distinctly  heard  stealing  round  that 
part  of  the  hut  Avhich  bordered  on  the  road  ;  and  the  ^^oung  men  turned  from 
the  orchard,  to  vrhich  their  attention  had  previously 'been  directed,  towards 
the  new  quarter  whence  they  were  intruded  upon. 

It  was  fortunate  this  mode  of  approach  had  lieen  selected.  Tliat  part  of 
the  hut  which  rested  on  the  road  was  so  exposed  as  to  throw  the  outline  of 
objects  into  strong  relief,  whereas  in  the  direction  of  the  thickly  wooded  or- 
chard all  was  impenetrable  gloom.  Had  the  intruder  stolen  unannounce*^}. 
upon  the  alarmed  but  determined  oificers  l)y  the  latter  route,  the  dagger  of 
the  first  would  in  all  probai>ility  have  been  plunged  to  its  hilt  in  his  bosom. 
As  it  was.  each  had  sufficient  presence  of  mind  to  distinguish,  as  it  now- 
doubled  the  corner  of  the  hut,  and  reposed  upon  the  road,  the  stout,  square- 
set  figure  of  the  Canadian.  The  daggers  were  instantly  restored  to  their 
sheaths,  and  each,  for  the  first  time  >;ince  the  departure  of  their  companion, 
respired  freely.  "  It  is  quite  well,"  whispered  the  latter  as  he  approached. 
"  It  was  my  poor  Babette,  who  touglit  I  was  gone  to  be  kill.  She  scream  so 
loud  as  if  she  had  seen  my  ghost.  But  we  must  wait  a  few  minute  in  de 
house  and  vou  shall  see  how  glad  my  girl  is  to  see  me  once  again." 

■'  Why  this  delay,  Fran9ois  1  why  not  start  directly  V  urged  the  taller  offi- 
cer;  ■'  we  shall  never  clear  the  river  in  time ;  and  if  the  dawn  catches  us  in 
the  waters  of  the  Detroit  we  are  lost  ibr  ever." 

''  But  yon  see  I  am  not  quite  prepsu-e  yet,"  was  the  answer.      •  T  liavc  many 


W  w  AGO  u  ST  a:    or,   the    prophecy. 

tings  to  get  ready  for  the  canoe,  which  I  have  not  use  for  a  long  times.  But 
jrou  shall  not  wait  ten  minute,  if  you  do  not  like.  Dere  is  a  good  fire,  nii'l 
Babette  shall  give  you  some  ting  to  eat  while  I  get  it  all  ready." 

The  young  men  hesitated.  The  delay  of  the  Canadian,  who  had  so  repeat - 
edl}^  urged  the  necessity  for  expedition  while  in  the  fort,  had,  to  say  the  least 
of  it,  an  appearance  of  incongruity.  Still  it  was  evident  if  disposed  to  harm 
them  he  had  full  opportunity  to  do  so  M'ithout  much  risk  of  effectual  opposi- 
tion from  themselves.  Under  all  circumstances,  therefore,  it  was  advisable 
rather  to  appear  to  confide  implicitly  in  his  truth,  than,  by  manifesting  suspi- 
cion, to  pique  his  self-love,  and  neutralise  whatever  favorable  intentions  he 
might  cherish  in  their  behalf.  In  this  mode  of  conduct  they  were  confii'med, 
by  a  recollection  of  the  sacredness  attached  by  the  religion  of  their  conductor 
to  the  oath  so  solemnly  pledged  on  the  symbol  of  the  cross,  and  by  a  convic- 
tion of  the  danger  of  observation  to  which  they  stood  exposed,  if,  as  they 
had  apprehended,  it  was  actually  a  human  footstep  they  had  heard  in  the  or- 
chard.    This  last  recollection  suggested  a  remark. 

"  We  heard  a  strange  sound  within  the  orchard,  while  waiting  here  for 
your  return,"  said  the  taller  officer  ;  "  it  was  like  the  footstep  of  a  man  tread- 
ing cautiousl)^  over  rotten  leaves  and  branches.     How  do  you  account  for  it  ?" 

"  Oh,  it  was  my  pigs  "  replied  the  Canadian,  without  manifesting  the  shght- 
-est  uneasiness  at  the  information.  "  They  run  about  in  do  orchard  for  dc 
apples  what  blows  down  wid  de  wind." 

"  It  could  not  be  a  pig  we  heard,"  pursued  his  questioner ;  "  but  another 
thing,  Francois,  before  we  consent  to  enter  the  hut, — how  will  you  account  to 
your  daughter  for  our  presence  ?  and  what  suspicion  may  she  not  form  at 
.seeing  two  armed  strangers  in  company  witli  j'ou  at  this  unseasonable  hour  ?" 

"  1  have  tell  her,"  replied  the  Canadian,  •  dat  I  have  bring  two  friends,  who 
go  wid  me  in  de  canoe  to  shoot  de  ducks  for  two  tree  days.  You  know,  sir, 
I  go  always  in  de  fall  to  kill  de  ducks  wid  my  friends,  and  she  will  not  tink 
it  sti'ange." 

'•  You  have  managed  well,  my  brave  fellow  ;  and  now  we  follow  you  in 
■coiiiidence.  But  in  the  name  of  Heaven  use  all  possible  despatch,  and  if 
money  will  lend  a  spiu-  to  your  actions,  you  shall  have  plenty  of  it  when  our 
■enterprise  has  been  accomplished." 

Our  adventurers  followed  their  conductor  in  the  track  by  which  he  had  so 
recently  rejoined  them.  As  they  turned  the  corner  of  the  hut,  the  younger, 
■who  brought  up  the  rear,  fancied  he  again  heard  a  sound  in  the  direction  of 
the  orchard,  resembling  that  of  one  hghtly  leaping  to  the  ground.  A  gust  of 
wind,  however,  passing  rapidly  at  the  moment  through  the  dense  foliage,  led 
him  to  believe  it  might  have  been  produced  by  the  sullen  fall  of  one  of  the 
heavy  fruits  it  had  detached  in  its  course.  UnwUling  to  excite  new  and  un- 
necessary suspicion  in  his  companion,  he  confined  the  circumstance  to  his  own 
breast,  and  followed  into  the  hut. 

After  ascending  a  fiight  of  alwut  a  dozen  rude  steps,  they  found  themselves 
in  a  small  room,  furnished  with  no  other  ceiling  than  the  sloping  roof  itself, 
and  lighted  by  an  unwieldy  iron  lamp,  placed  on  a  heavy  oak  table,  near  the 
-only  window  with  which  the  apartment  was  provided.  The  latter  had  suf- 
fered much  from  the  influence  of  time  and  tempest ;  and  owing  to  the  difficulty 
of  pi'ocuring  glass  in  so  remote  a  region,  had  been  patched  with  slips  of  paper 
in  various  parts.  The  two  corner  and  lower  panes  of  the  bottom  sash  were 
out  altogether,  and  pine  shingles,  such  as  are  used  even  at  the  present  day  for 
covering  the  roofs  of  dweUing  houses,  had  been  fitted  into  the  squares,  ex- 
cluding air  and  light  at  the  same  time.  The  centre  pane  of  this  tier  was, 
however,  clear  and  free  from  flaw  of  every  description.  Opposite  to  the  win- 
dow blazed  a  cheerful  wood  fire,  recently  supplied  with  fuel ;  and  at  one  of 
the  inner  corners  of  the  room  was  placed  a  low  uncurtained  bed,  that  ex- 
hibited marks  of  having  been  lain  in  since  it  was  last  made.     On  a  chair  at 


wacousta;    ok,    tiie    prophecy.  71 

its  side  were  heajicd  a  fow  dark-look iuj;;  gaimcnts,  the  precise  nature  of  which 
were  not  distinguishable  at  a  cursory  and  distant  glance. 

Such  were  tlie  more  remarkable  features  of  the  apartment  into  which  our 
adventurers  wei-e  now  ushered.  Both  looked  cautiously  around  on  entering, 
as  if  expecting  to  find  it  tenanted  bj^  spirits  as  daring  as  their  own ;  but,  with 
the  exception  of  the  daughter  of  their  conductor,  wliose  moist  black  eyes  ex- 
pressed, as  much  by  tears  as  by  smiles,  the  joy  she  felt  at  this  unexpected  re- 
turn of  her  parent,  no  living  object  met  their  enquiring  glance.  The  Cana- 
dian placed  a  couple  of  rush-bottomed  chairs  near  the  tire,  invited  his  com- 
panions to  seat  tliemselvcs  until  he  had  completed  his  preparations  for  depar- 
ture, and  then,  desiring  Babette  to  hasten  su{)per  for  the  young  hunters,  quit- 
ted the  room  and  descended  the  stairs. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

The  position  of  the  young  men  was  one  of  embarrassment ;  for  while  the 
daughter,  who  was  busied  in  executing  the  command  of  her  father,  remained 
in  the  room,  it  wa,s  impossible  they  could  converse  together  without  betray- 
ing the  secret  of  their  coimtry,  and,  as  a  resiUt  of  this,  the  falsehood  of  the 
character  under  which  they  appeared.  Long  residence  in  the  country  had,  it 
is  true,  rendered  the  patois  of  that  class  of  people  whom  they  personated  fa- 
miliar to  one,  but  the  other  spoke  only  the  pure  ami  native  language  of  which 
it  was  a  corruption.  It  might  have  occurred  to  them  at  a  cooler  moment,  and 
under  less  critical  circumstances,  that,  even  if  their  disgui.se  had  been  pene 
trated,  it  was  imlikely  a  female,  manifesting  so  much  lively  aflection  for  her 
parent,  would  have  done  aught  to  injure  those  with  whom  he  had  evidently 
connected  himself.  But  the  importance  attached  to  their  entire  security  from 
danger  left  them  but  little  room  for  retiections  of  a  calming  character,  while 
a  doubt  of  that  security  remained. 

One  singularity  struck  them  both.  They  had  expected  the  young  woman, 
urged  by  a  natural  curiosity,  would  have  commenced  a  conver.sation,  even  if 
they  did  not ;  and  he  who  spoke  the  patois  was  prepared  to  sustain  it  as  well 
as  his  anxious  and  ovir.'liarged  spirit  wotild  enable  him;  and  as  he  was  aware 
the  morning  had  furnisliLMl  sutticient  inci<lent  of  fearful  interest,  he  had  na- 
turally looked  for  a  verbal  re-enactment  of  the  harrowing  and  dreadful  scene. 
To  their  surprise,  however,  they  both  remarked  that,  for  from  evincing  a  de- 
sire to  enter  into  conversation,  the  young  woman  scarcely  ever  looked  at 
them,  but  lingered  constantly  near  the  table,  and  facing  the  window.  StUl, 
to  avoid  an  appearance  of  singularity  on  their  own  parts,  as  far  as  possible, 
the  elder  of  the  officers  motioned  to  his  companion,  who,  following  his  exam- 
ple, took  a  snTall  pipe  and  some  tobacco  from  a  compartment  in  his  shot 
pouch,  and  commenced  puffing  the  wreathing  smoke  from  his  lips, — an  occu- 
pation, more  than  any  other,  seeming  to  justify  their  silence. 

The  elder  officer  sat  witli  his  back  to  the  window,  and  immediately  in  front 
of  the  fire  ;  his  companion,  at  a  corner  of  the  rude  hearth,  and  in  such  a  man- 
ner that,  without  turning  his  head,  he  could  command  every  part  of  the  room 
at  a  glance.  In  the  corner  facing  him  stood  the  bed  already  described.  A 
faint  ray  of  fire-light  fell  on  some  minute  object  glittering  in  the  chair,  the 
contents  of  which  were  heaped  up  in  disorder.  Urged  by  that  wayward  cu- 
riosity, which  is  sometimes  excited,  even  under  circumstances  of  the  greatest 
danger  and  otherwise  ab.sorbing  interest,  the  young  man  kicked  the  hickory 
log  that  lay  nearest  to  it  with  his  mocassined  foot,  and  produced  a  bright 
crackling  flame,  the  reflection  of  which  was  thrown  entirely  upon  the  object 
of  his  gaze ;  it  was  a  large  metal  button,  on  which  the  number  of  his  regi- 
ment was  distinctly  visible.     Unable  to  check  hLs  desire  to  know  further,  he 


72       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

left  his  scat,  to  examine  the  contents  of  the  ciiair.  As  he  moved  across  tho 
room,  he  fancied  he  heard  a  Hght  sonnd  from  -w-ithout ;  his  companion,  also, 
seemed  to  manifest  a  similar  impression  by  an  almost  impercepti]>Ie  start ;  but 
the  noise  -svas  so  momentary,  and  so  fanciful,  neither  felt  it  worth  his  while  to 
pause  upon  the  circumstance.  The  young  officer  now  raised  the  garments 
from  the  chair :  they  consisted  of  a  small  grey  gTcat-coat,  and  trowsers,  a 
waistcoat  of  coarse  white  cloth,  a  pair  of  worsted  stockings,  and  the  half- 
boots  of  a  boy ;  t'le  whole  forming  the  drum-boj-'s  equipment  worn  by  the 
wretched  vrife  of  IIall')vr;iy  when  borne  senseless  into  the  hut  on  that  fatal 
morning.  Hastily  quitting  a  dress  that  called  up  so  many  dreadful  recollec- 
tions, and  tTirning  to  his  companion  Vi'ith  a  look  that  denoted  apprehension, 
lest  he  too  should  have  beheld  these  melancholy  remembrances  of  the  harrow- 
ing scene,  the  young  officer  h-astened  to  resume  his  seat.  In  the  act  of  so  doin^. 
his  eye  fell  upon  the  windqvr,  at  which  the  female  still  lingered.  JInd  a 
blast  from  heaven  struclc  hJS  sight,  the  terror  of  his  soul  could  not  have  Ijcen 
greater.  He  felt  liis  clit-ek  to  pale,  and  his  hair  to  bristle  beneath  his  cap, 
while  the  checked  blood  crept  slowly  and  coldly,  as  if  its  very  function  had 
been  paral3^sed  ;  still  he  had  presence  of  nrind  sufficient  not  to  falter  in  his 
step,  or  to  betray,  by  an  extraordinary  movement,  tliat  his  eye  had  rested  on. 


lytl 
Hi: 


[is  companion  had  emptied  his  first  pipe,  and  wan  in  the  act  of  re-filling- 
it,  when  he  resumed  his  seat.  He  was  evidently  impatient  at  the  delay  of  the 
Canadian,  and  alreadj^  were  his  lips  ready  to  give  utterance  to  his  disappoint- 
ment, when  he  felt  his  foot  si'.i;nificantly  pressed  by  that  of  his  friend.  An 
instinctive  sense  of  something  fearful  that  was  to  ensue,  but  still  demanding 
caution  on  his  part,  prevented  him  from  turning  hastily  round  to  know  the 
cause.  Satisfied,  however,  there  was  danger,  though  not  of  an  instantaneous, 
character,  he  put  his  pipe  gently  by,  and  stealing  liis  hand  under  his  coat, 
again  grasped  tlie  hilt  of  Iiis  dagger.  At  length  he  slowly  and  partially 
turned  his  head,  v/hile  his  eyes  enquiringly  demanded  of  his  friend  tlie  cause 
of  this  alarm.  Parth^  to  aid  in  concealing  his  increasing  paleness,  and  partly 
with  a  view  to  render  it  a  liied.iuTri  for  the  conveyance  of  subdued  sound,  the 
hand  of  the  latter  was  raised  to  his  face  in  such  a  manner  that  the  motion, of 
his  lips  could  not  be  distinguished  from  behind. 

"  We  are  betrayed,"  he  scarcely  breathed.  "  If  you  can  command  3  our- 
self,  turn  and  look  a,t  the  window ;  but  for  God's  sake  arm  yourself  with, 
resolution,  or  look  not  at  all :  first  draw  the  hood  over  your  helid,  and. 
without  any  appearance  of  design.  Our  only  chance  of  safety  lies  in  this, 
— that  the  Canadian  may  still  1)e  true,  and  tiiat  our  disguise  may  not  be  pene- 
trated." 

In  despite  of  his  native  courage, — and  this  had  often  been  put  to  honorable 
proof, — lie.  thus  mysteriously  addressed,  felt  his  heart  to  throb  violently. 
There  wns  s'l'.i'  (hing  so  appalled  in  the  counter.ance  of  his  friend — something 
so  alanning  in.  (li"  very  caution  he  had  recommended — that  a  vague  dread  of 
the  horrible  reality  rushed  at  once  to  his  mind,  and  for  a  moment  his  own 
check  became  ashy  pale,  and  his  breathing  painfully  oppressed.  It  was  the 
natural  weakness  of  the  physical  man.  over  which  the  moral  faculties,  had, 
for  an  instant,  lost  their  directing  power.  Speedily  recovering  himself,  the 
young  man  prepared  to  encounter  tlie  alarming  object  which  had  already  so 
greatly  intimidated  his  friend.  Carefully  drawing  the  blanket  hood  over  liis 
head,  he  rose  from  his  seat,  and,  with  the  energetic  movement  of  one  v»'ho  has 
formed  some  desperate  determination,  turned  his  back  to  the  fire-place,  and 
threw  his  eyes  rajiidly  and  eagerly  upon  the  window.  They  fell  only  on  the 
rude  patchwork  of  which  it  was  principally  composed.  The  female  had  quitted 
the  room. 

"  You  must  have  been  deceived,"  he  whispered,  keeping  his  eye  still  tent 
upon  the  window,  and  with  so  imperceptible  a  movement  of  the  lips  that 


W  A  C  O  U  S   !■  A 


r  H  E     P  R  ()  P  U  E  C  Y  .  73 


sound  alone  could  liave  betrayed  that  he  was  speaking, — "  T  sec  nothing  to 
justify  your  alarm.     Look  again." 

The  younger  officer  once  nioie  directed  his  glance  towards  the  window, 
and  with  a  shuddering  of  the  whole  person,  as  he  recollected  what  had  met 
his  eye  when  he  last  looked  upon  it.  "  It  is  no  longer  there,  indeed,"  he 
returned  in  the  same  scarcely  audible  tone.  "  Yet  I  coidd  not  be  mistaken  ; 
it  was  between  those  two  corner  squares  of  wood  in  the  lower  sash." 

"  Perhaps  it  was  merely  a  retlection  produced  by  the  lamp  on  the  centre 
pane,"  rejoined  his  friend,  siill  keeping  his  eye  riveted  on  the  suspicious  point. 
•*  Impossible !  but  1  will  examine  the  window  from  the  spot  on  which  I  stood 
when  I  tirst  beheld  it." 

Again  he  (juitted  his  seat,  and  carelessly  crossed  the  room.  As  he  returned 
he  threw  his  glance  upon  the  pane,  when,  to  his  infinite  horror  and  sm-prise, 
the  same  frightful  vision  presented  itself. 

•'  God  of  heaven  !"  he  exclaimed  aloud,  and  unable  longer  to  check  the 
ebullition  of  his  feelings, — "'  what  means  this  ?  Ts  my  brain  turned  ?  and  am 
I  the  sport  of  my  own  delusive  fancy — Do  you  not  see  it  noio  ?" 

No  answer  was  returned.  His  friend  stood  mute  and  motionless,  with  his 
left  hand  gnisping  his  gun,  and  his  right  thrust  into  the  waist  of  his  coat. 
His  eye  grew  upon  the  window,  and  his  chest  heaved,  and  his  cheek  paled 
and  flushed  alternately  with  the  subdued  emotion  of  his  heart.  A  human 
face  was  phiced  close  to  the  unblemished  glass,  and  every  feature  was  dis- 
tinctly revealed  by  the  lamp  that  still  lay  upon  the  table.  The  glaring  eye 
was  fixed  on  the  taller  of  the  officers ;  but  though  the  expression  was  un- 
fiithomably  guileful,  there  was  nothing  that  denoted  anything  like  a  recogni- 
tion of  the  party.  The  brightness  of  the  wood  fire  had  so  far  subsided  as  to 
throw  the  interior  of  the  i-oom  into  partial  obscurity,  and  under  the  disguise 
of  his  hood  it  was  impossible  for  one  without  to  distinguish  the  features  of 
the  taller  officer.  The  yoiniger,  who  was  scarcely  an  object  of  attention, 
passed  comparatively  unnoticed. 

Fatigued  and  dinmed  with  the  long  and  eager  tension  of  its  nerves,  the  eye 
of  the  latter  now  began  to  fail  him.  For  a  moment  he  closed  it ;  and  when 
again  it  fell  upon  the  window,  it  encountered  nothing  but  the  clear  and  glit- 
tering pane.  For  upwards  of  a  minute  he  and  his  friend  still  continued  to 
rivet  their  gaze,  but  the  face  was  no  longer  visible. 

Why  is  it  that  what  is  called  the  "  human  face  divine,"  is  sometimes  gifted 
with  a  power  to  paralyse,  that  the  most  loathsome  reptile  in  the  creation  can- 
not attain  ?  Had  a  cougar  of  the  American  forest,  roaring  for  prey,  appeared 
at  the  window,  ready  to  burst  the  fragile  barrier,  and  fasten  its  talons  in  their 
hearts,  its  presence  would  not  have  struck  sucli  sickness  to  the  souls  of  our 
adventurers  as  did  that  human  face.  It  is,  that  man,  naturally  fierce  and  in- 
exorable, is  alone  the  enemy  of  his  own  species.  The  solution  of  this  pro- 
blem— this  glorious  paradox  in  nature,  we  leave  to  profounder  philosophers 
to  resolve.     Sufficient  for  us  lae  it  to  know  and  to  deplore  that  it  is  so. 

Footsteps  were  now  heard  upon  the  stairs ;  and  the  officers,  aroused  to  a 
full  sense  of  their  danger,  hastily  and  silently  prepared  themselves  for  the  en- 
counter. "  Drop  a  bullet  into  yom-  gun,"  whispered  the  elder,  setting  the  ex- 
ample himself.  "'  "We  may  be  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  it  at  last.  Yet 
make  no  show  of  hostility  unless  circumstances  satisfy  us  we  are  betrayed ; 
then,  indeed,  all  that  remains  for  us  will  be  to  seU  our  lives  as  dearly  as  we 
can.     Hist !  he  is  here." 

The  door  opened  !  and  at  the  entrance,  which  was  already  filled  up  in  the 
imaginations  of  the  young  men  with  a  terrible  and  alarming  figure,  appeared 
one  whose  retiu'u  had  been  anxiously  aiid  long  desired.  It  was  a  relief,  in- 
deed, to  then-  gallant  but  excited  he;irts  to  behold  another  than  the  form  they 
had  expected ;  and  although,  for  the  ujoment,  they  knew  not  whether  the 
Canadian  came  in  hostility  or  fricndsiiip,  each  quitted  the  attitude  of  caution 
into  which  he  had  thrown  himself,  and  met  him  midway  in  his  passage  through 


74  \\-  A  C  0  U  S  T  A 


'I  H    K       r  li   O  F  H   E  C  V 


the  room.  There  was  nothing  in  the  expression  of  liis  naturally  open  and 
good-inunored  coinitenance  to  denote  he  was  at  all  aware  of  the  causes  for 
alarm  that  had  operated  so  powerfull^y  upon  themselves.  He  announced  with 
a  frank  look  and  imfaltering. voice  everything  was  in  readiness  for  their  de- 
parture. 

The  officers  hesitated ;  and  the  taller  fixed  his  eyes  upon  those  of  mine 
host,  as  if  his  gaze  would  have  penetrated  to  the  innermost  rcces.ses  of  his 
heart.  Could  this  be  a  refinement  of  treachery  ?  and  was  he  really  ignorant 
of  the  existence  of  tlie  danger  which  threatened  them  ?  Was  it  not  more  pro- 
bable his  object  was  to  disarm  their  fears,  that  they  might  be  given  unpre- 
pared and,  therefore,  unresisting  victims  to  the  ferocity  of  their  enemies? 
Aware  as  he  was,  that  they  were  both  well  provided  with  arms,  and  fully  de- 
termined to  use  them  with  effect,  might  not  his  aim  be  to  decoy  them  to  de- 
struction without,  lest  the  blood  spilt  under  his  roof,  in  the  desperation  of 
their  defence,  should  hereafter  attest  against  him,  and  expose  him  to  the  pun- 
ishment he  would  so  richly  merit  ?  Distracted  by  these  doubts,  the  young 
men  scarcely  knew  what  to  think  or  how  to  act ;  and  anxious  as  they  had 
previously  been  to  quit  the  hut,  they  now  considered  the  moment  of  their 
doing  so  would  he  that  of  their  destruction.  The  importance  of  the  enterprise 
on  which  they  were  embarked  was  such  as  to  sink  all  personal  considerations. 
If  they  had  felt  the  influence  of  intimidation  on  their  spirits,  it  arose  less  from 
any  apprehension  of  consequences  to  themselves,  than  from  the  recollection  of 
the  dearer  interests  involved  in  their  perfect  security  from  discovery. 

"  Franfois,"  feelingly  urged  the  taller  officer,  again  adverting  to  his  vow, 
"  you  recollect  the  oath  you  solemnly  pledged  upon  the  cross  of  our  Saviour. 
Tell  me,  then,  as  you  hope  for  mercy,  have  you  taken  that  oath  only  that  you 
might  the  more  securely  betray  us  to  our  enemies  ?  What  connection  have 
you  with  them  at  this  moment  ?  and  who  is  Jie  who  stood  looking  through 
that  window  not  ten  minutes  since  ?" 

'•  As  I  shall  hope  for  mercy  in  my  God,"  exclaimed  the  Canadian  with  un- 
feigned astonishment,  "  T  have  not  see  nobody.  But  what  for  do  you  tink  so  ? 
It  is  not  just.     I  have  given  my  oat  to  serve  you,  and  I  shall  do  it." 

There  was  candor  both  in  the  tone  and  countenance  of  the  man  as  he  utter- 
ed these  words,  half  in  reproach,  half  in  justification ;  and  the  officers  no 
longer  doubted. 

"  You  must  forgive  our  suspicions  at  a  moment  like  the  present,"  soothmgly 
observed  the  younger ;  '•  yet.  Fi-an^ois.  your  daughter  .saw  and  exchanged  sig- 
nals with  the  person  we  mwvn.  vShc  left  tlie  room  soon  after  he  made  his  ap- 
pearance.    What  has  become  of  her  ?" 

The  Canadian  gave  a  sudden  start,  looked  hitstily  around,  and  seemed  to 
perceive  for  the  first  time  the  girl  was  absent.  He  then  put  a  finger  to  his  lip 
to  enjoin  silence,  advanced  to  the  table  and  extinguished  the  light.  Desiring 
his  companions,  in  a  low  whisper,  to  tread  cautiously  and  follow,  he  now  led 
the  way  with  almost  noiseless  step  to  the  entrance  of  the  hut.  At  the  thresliold 
of  the  door  were  placed  a  large  and  well-fille(J  sack,  a  light  mast  and  .sail,  and 
half  a  dozen  paddles.  The  latter  burden  he  divided  between  the  officers,  on 
whose  shoulders  he  carefully  balanced  them.  The  sack  he  threw  across  his 
own ;  and,  without  expressing  even  a  regret  that  an  opportunity  of  bidding 
adieu  to  his  child  was  denied  him,  hastily  skirted  the  palmg  of  the  orchard 
until,  at  the  further  extremity,  he  had  gained  the  high  road.  The  heavens 
were  ob.scured  by  passing  clouds  driven  rapicUy  by  the  wind,  during  the  short 
pauses  of  which  our  adventurers  anxiously  and  frequently  turne<l  to  listen  if 
they  were  pursued.  Save  the  rustling  of  the  trees  that  lined  the  road,  and 
the  slight  dashing  of  the  waters  on  the  beach,  however,  no  sound  was  dis- 
tinguishalile.  At  length  they  gained  the  point  whence  thej^  were  to  start.  It 
was  the  fatal  bridge,  the  events  connected  with  which  were  yet  so  painfully 
fresh  in  their  recollection. 

'■  Stop  one  minutes  here,"  whisjiered  the  Canadian,  throwing  his  sack  upon 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A   ;       OR,     THE      P  K  0  P  H  E  C  Y  .  75 

the  saiul  near  the  moiilh  of  the  lesser  river  ;  "  my  canoe  is  chain  about  twenty 
yards  np  de  bridge.  I'  sliall  couie  to  you  directly."  Then  cautionin,^;  the  of- 
ficers to  keep  themselves  concealed  under  the  hridj>-e,  lie  moved  liastily  under 
the  arch,  and  disappeared  in  the  dark  shadow  which  it  threw  across  the  I'ivulct. 

The  extremities  of  the  bridjie  rested  on  the  banks  of  the  little  river  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  leave  a  narrow  passage  along  the  sands  immerliately  under  the 
declination  of  the  arch.  In  accordance  with  the  caution  of  their  conductor,  the 
officers  had  placed  themselves  under  it ;  and  with  their  backs  slightly  bent 
forward  to  meet  the  curvature  of  the  bridge,  so  that  no  ray  of  light  could  pass 
between  tlieir  bodies  and  the  fabric  itself  now  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  vessel 
on  wliich  their  only  hope  de])ended.  We  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  their 
feelings  on  fhiding  tln'mselves.  at  that  lone  hour  of  the  night,  immediately  un- 
der a  sjiot  rendered  fearlullN  inc'morable  ])y  the  tragic  occurrences  of  the 
morning.  The  terrible  jiursuit  of  the  fugitive,  the  execution  of  the  soldier,  the 
curse  and  propliecy  of  his  maniac  wife,  and,  above  all,  the  forcible  abduction 
and  threatened  espousal  of  that  unhappy  woman  by  the  formidable  being  who 
seemed  to  have  identified  himself  with  the  evils  with  which'they  stood  menaced, 
— all  rushed  with  rapiil  tracery  on  the  mind,  and  excited  the  imagination,  un- 
til each,  filled  with  a  s.iitiment  not  unallied  to  superstitious  awe,  feared  to 
whisper  forth  his  tliduglils,  lest  in  so  doing  he  should  invoke  the  presence  of 
those  who  had  principally  figured  in  the  harrowing  and  revolting  scene. 

"  Did  you  not  hear  a  noise  ?"  at  length  whispered  the  elder,  as  he  leaned 
himself  forward,  and  bent  his  head  to  tho  sand,  to  catch  more  distinctly  a 
repetition  of  the  sound. 

"  I  did  ;  there  again  !  It  is  upon  the  bridge,  and  not  imlike  the  step  of  one 
endeavoring  to  tread  lightl} .     It  may  be  some  wild  beast,  however." 

"  We  must  not  be  taken  by  surprise,"  returned  his  companion.  "If  it  be 
a  man,  the  wary  tread  indicates  consciousness  of  our  presence.  If  an  aninaal, 
there  can  1)e  no  harm  in  setting  our  fears  at  rest."  Cautiously  stealing  from 
his  lurking-])lace,  the  young  officer  emerged  into  the  open  sands,  and  in  a 
few  measured  noiseless  strides  gained  the  extremity  of  the  bridge.  The  dark 
shadow  of  something  upon  its  centre  caught  his  eye,  and  a  low  sound  like 
that  of  a  dog  lapping  met  his  ear.  AVhile  his  gaze  yet  lingered  on  the  shape- 
less object,  endeavoring  to  give  it  a  character,  the  clouds  which  had  so  long 
obscin-ed  it  passed  momentarily  from  before  the  moon,  and  disclosed  the  ap- 
palling truth.  It  was  a  wolf-dog  lapping  up  from  the  earth,  in  which  they 
M-ere  encrusted,  tlie  blood  and  brains  of  the  mifortunate  Frank  Halloway. 

Sick  and  faint  at  the  disgusting  siglit.  the  young  man  rested  his  elbow  on 
the  railing  that  passed  along  the  edge  of  the  bridge,  and,  leaning  his  head  on 
his  hand  for  a  moment,  forgot  the  risk  of  exposure  he  incurred,  in  the  in- 
tenseness  of  the  sorrow  that  assailed  his  soul.  His  heart  and  imagination 
were  already  far  from  the  spot  on  which  he  stood,  when  he  felt  an  iron  hand 
upon  his  shoulder.  He  tm-ned,  shuddering  with  an  instinctive  knowledge  of 
his  yet  unseen  visitant,  and  beheld  .standing  over  him  the  terrible  warrior  of 
the  Fleur  de  Lis. 

'■  Ha,  ha,  ha  !"  laughed  the  savage,  in  a  low  triumphant  tone,  "  the  place  of 
our  meeting  is  well  timed,  though  somewhat  singular,  it  must  be  confessed. 
Na}',"  he  fiercely  added,  grasping  mi  in  a  vice  the  arm  that  was  already  lifted 
to  strike  him,  ••  force  me  not  to  annihilate  you  on  the  spot.  Ha  !  hear  you  the 
cry  of  my  wolf-dog  ?"  as  that  animal  now  set  up  a  low  but  fearful  howl ;  "  it' 
is  for  your  blood  he  asks,  but  your  hour  is  not  yet  come." 

'"  No,  by  heaven,  it  is  not ;"  exclaimed  a  voice ;  a  rapid  and  rushing  sweep 
was  heard  through  the  air  for  an  instant,  and  then  a  report  like  a  stunning 
blow.  The  warrior  released  his  grasp — placed  his  hand  upon  his  tomahawk, 
but  without  strength  to  remove  it  from  his  belt  tottered  a  pace  or  two  back- 
wards— and  then  fell,  uttering  a  cry  of  mingled  pain  and  disappointment,  at 
his  length  upon  the  earth.  '■  Qidck,  quick  to  your  cover!"  exclaimed  the 
young  officer,  a^  a  loud  shout  \\'as  now  heard  from  the  forest  in  reply  to  the 


76       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy." 

yell  of  the  fallen  warrior.  "  If  Fran9ois  come  not,  we  are  lost :  tlie  howl  of 
that  wolf-dog  alone  will  betray  ns,  even  if  his  master  should  be  Ixyond  all 
chance  of  recovery." 

"  Desperate  diseases  require  desperate  remedies,"  was  the  reply  ;  ■•  there  is 
little  glory  in  destroying  a  helpless  enemy,  but  the  necessity  is  urgent,  and 
we  must  leave  nothing  to  chance."  As  he  spoke,  he  knelt  upon  the  huge 
form  of  the  senseless  warrior,  whose  scalping  knife  he  drew  from  its  sheath, 
and  striking  a  firm  and  steady  blow,  quitted  not  the  weapon  until  he  felt  his 
hand  reposing  on  the  chest  of  his  enemy.  The  howl  of  the  wolf-dog,  whose 
eyes  glared  like  two  burning  coals  throiigh  the  surrounding  gloom,  was  now 
exchanged  to  a  fierce  and  snappish  bark.  He  made  a  leap  at  the  officer  while 
in  the  act  of  rising  from  the  body ;  bvit  his  fangs  fastened  onlj^  in  the  chest 
of  the  shaggy  coat,  which  he  wrung  with  the  strength  and  fury  characteristic 
of  his  peculiar  species.  Tliis  new  and  ferocious  attack  was  fraught  with  dan- 
ger little  inferior  to  that  which  they  had  just  escaped,  and  required  the  ut- 
most promptitude. of  action.  The  young  man  Mjizcd  the  brute  behind  the 
neck  in  a  firm  and  vigorous  grasp,  while  he  stooped  upon  the  motioiile'^s  form 
over  which  this  novel  struggle  was  maintained,  and  succeeded  in  making  liim- 
self  once  more  master  of  the  scalping  knife.  Half  choked  by  the  hand  that 
imflinchingly  grappled  with  him,  the  savage  animal  quitted  his  hold  and  strug- 
gled violently  to  free  himself.  This  was  the  critical  moment.  The  officer 
drew  the  heavy  sharp  blade,  from  the  handle  to  the  point,  across  the  throat 
of  the  infuriated  beast,  with  a  force  that  di^'ided  the  principal  artery.  He 
made  a  desperate  leap  upwards,  spouting  his  blood  over  his  destroyer,  and 
then  fell  gasping  across  the  body  of  his  master.  A  low  growl,  intermingled 
with  faint  attempts  to  bark,  which  the  rapidly  oozing  life  rendered  more  and 
more  indistinct,  succeeded  ;  and  at  length  nothing  but  a  gurgling  sound  was 
distinguishable. 

Meanwhile  the  anxious  and  harassed  officers  had  regained  their  place  of 
concealment  under  the  bridge,  where  they  listened  with  suppressed  breathing 
for  the  slightest  sound  to  indicate  the  approach  of  the  canoe.  At  intervals 
they  fancied  they  could  hear  a  noise  resembling  the  rippling  of  v.-ater  against 
the  prow  of  a  light  vessel,  but  the  swelling  cries  of  a  band  of  Indians,  becom- 
ing at  every  instant  more  distinct,  were  too  unceasinglj^  kept  up  to  admit  of 
their  judging  with  accuracy. 

They  now  began  to  give  themselves  up  for  lost,  and  many  and  bitter  were 
the  curses  they  inwardly  bestowed  on  the  Canadian,  when  the  outline  of  a 
human  form  was  seen  advancing  along  the  sands,  and  a  dark  object  u}x>n  the 
water.  It  was  their  conductor,  dragging  the  canoe  along,  with  all  the  strength 
and  activity  of  which  he  was  capable. 

"  What  "the  devil  have  you  been  about  all  this  this  time,  Franyois  ?"  ex- 
claimed the  taller  officer,  as  he  bounde<l  to  meet  him.  "  Quick,  quick,  or  we 
sliall  be  too  late.  Hear  you  not  the  blood-hounds  on  their  scent  ?"  Then 
seizing  the  chain  in  his  hand,  with  a  powerful  effort  he  sent  the  canoe  flying 
through  the  arcli  to  the  very  entrance  of  the  river.  The  burdens  that  had 
been  deposited  on  the  sands  were  hastily  flung  in,  the  officers  stepping  lightly 
after.  The  Canadian  took  the  helm,  directing  the  frail  vessel  almost  noise- 
lessly through  the  water,  and  with  such  velocity,  that  when  the  crj'  of  the 
disappointed  savages  was  heard  resounding  from  the  bridge,  it  had  already 
gained  the  centre  of  the  Detroit. 


CHAPTER  XIT. 

Two  days  had  succeeded  the  departure  of  the  officers  from  the  fort,  but 
unproductive  of  .any  event  of  importance.     About  daybreak,  however,  on  the 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      P  li  O  P  H  E  C  V  .  77 

morning-  of  the  third,  the  harassed  garrison  were  once  more  sinunioued  to 
arms  by  an  alarm  from  the  sentinels  planted  in  rear  of  the  works:  a  body  of 
Indians  the}^  had  traced  and  lost  at  intervals,  as  they  wound  along  the  skirt 
of  the  forest,  in  their  progress  from  their  encampment,  were  at  length  devel- 
oping themselves  in  force  near  the  bomb-proof.  With  a  readiness  which  long 
experience  and  watchfulness  had  rendered  in  some  degree  habitual  to  them, 
the  troops  flew  to  their  respective  posts  ;  while  a  few  of  the  senior  officers, 
among  whom  was  the  governor,  hastened  to  the  ramparts  to  reconnoitre  the 
strength  and  purpose  of  their  enemies.  It  was  evident  that  the  views  of  these 
were  not  immediately  hostile ;  for  neither  were  they  in  their  war  paint,  nor 
were  their  arms  of  a  description  to  carry  intimidation  to  a  disciplined  and 
fortified  soldiery.  Bows,  arrows,  tomahawks,  war  clubs,  spears,  and  scalping 
knives,  constituted  their  warlike  equipments,  but  neither  rifle  nor  fire-ai-ms 
of  any  kind  were  discernil^le.  Several  of  their  leaders,  distinguishable  by  a 
ccrt;u'.i  liuniility  caniaLic  and  commanding  gesticulation,  were  collected  within 
the  >  i.  \ai  i  'M'.hili-]irn.  r.  apMarently  holding  a  short  but  important  conference 
apari  IVmm  their  pruplc,  most  of  whom  stood  or  lay  in  picturesque  attitudes 
around  the  ruin.  These  also  had  a  directing  spirit.  A  tall  and  noble  looking 
warrior,  wearing  a  deer  skin  hunting  frock  closely  girded  around  his  loins, 
appeared  to  command  the  deference  of  his  colleagues,  claiming  profound  at- 
tention when  he  spoke  himself  and  manifesting  his  assent  or  chssent  to  the 
apptirently  expressed  oj)inions  of  the  lesser  chiefs  merely  by  a  slight  move- 
ment of  the  head. 

••  There  he  is  indeed !"  exclaimed  Captain  Erskine,  .speaking  as  one  who 
communes  with  his  own  thoughts,  while  he  kept  his  telescope  levelled  on  the 
form  of  the  last  warrior :  "  looking  just  as  noble  as  when,  three  years  ago,  he 
opposed  himself  to  the  progress  of  the  first  English  detachment  that  had  ever 
penetrated  to  this  part  of  the  world.  "What  a  pity  such  a  fine  fellow  should 
be  so  desperate  and  determined  an  enemy  !" 

"  True:  you  were  with  Major  Rogers  on  that  expedition,"  observed  the  go- 
vernor, '•  I  have  often  heard  him  .speak  of  it.  You  had  many  difficulties  to 
contend  against,  if  I  recollect."  '•  We  had  indeed,  sir,"  returned  the  frank- 
hearted  Erskine,  dropping  the  glass  from  his  eye.  '■  So  many,  in  fact,  that 
more  than  once,  in  the  course  of  our  progress  through  the  wiklerness,  did  I 
wish  myself  at  head-quarters  with  m.y  compan}-.  Never  shall  I  forget  the 
proud  and  determined  expression  of  Ponteac's  countenance,  when  he  told  Ro- 
gers, in  his  figurative  language,  '  he  stood  in  the  path  in  which  he  travelled. ' " 

'•  Thank  heaven,  he  at  least  stands  not  in  the  path  in  which  others  travel," 
musingly  rejoined  the  governor.  '•  But  what  sudden  movement  is  that  with- 
in the  ruin  ?" 

'•  The  Indians  are  preparing  to  -show  a  white  flag,"  shouted  an  artillery  man 
from  his  station  in  one  of  the  embrasures  below. 

The  governor  and  his  officers  received  this  intelligence  without  surprise :  the 
former  took  the  glass  from  Captain  Erskine,  and  coolly  raised  it  to  his  eye. 
The  consultation  had  ceased ;  and  the  several  chiefs,  were  now  seen  quitting 
the  bomb-proof  to  join  their  respectives  tribes.  One  of  those  remained, 
sprang  upon  an  elevated  fragment  of  the  ruin,  and  uttered  a  prolonged  cry. 
the  purport  of  which, — anil  it  was  fully  understood  from  its  peculiar  nature, 
— was  to  claim  attention  fi'om  the  fort.  He  then  received  from  the  hands  of 
the  other  chief  a  long  spear,  to  the  end  of  which  was  attached  a  piece  of  wliite 
linen.  This  he  waved  several  times  above  his  licad  ;  then  stuck  the  barb  of 
the  spear  fi.rmly  into  the  projecting  fragment.  Quitting  his  elevated  station, 
he  next  stood  at  the  side  of  the  Ottawa  chief,  who  had  already.assumed  the 
air  and  attitude  of  one  waiting  to  observe  in  what  manner  his  signal  would 
be  received. 

'•  A  flag  of  truce  in  all  its  bearings,  by  Jupiter  !"  remarked  Captain  Erskine. 
"  Ponteac  seems  to  have  acquired  a  few  lessons  since  we  first  met." 

"This  is   evidently   the  suggestion    of  some  European."   observed    Major 


78  vv  A  c  o  u  s  T  A  :    or,    the    prophecy. 

Blackwatcr ;  '"  for  how  could  he  understand  auytliini;'  of  the  nature  of  a 
white  flag  ?     Some  of  these  vile  spies  have  put  him  up  to  this." 

"  True  enough,  Blackwater ;  and  they  appear  to  have  found  an  intelligent 
pupil,"  observed  Captain  "VYentworth.  "  I  was  curious  to  know  how  he  would 
make  the  attempt  to  approach  us ;  but  certainly  never  once  dreamt  of  his 
having  recourse  to  so  civilized  a  method.  Their  plot  works  well,  no  doubt ; 
still  we  have  the  counter-plot  to  opppose  to  it." 

"  We  must  foil  them  with  their  own  weapons,"  remarked  the  governor, 
•'  even  if  it  be  only  with  a  view  to  gain  time.  Wentworth,  desire  one  of  your 
bombardiers  to  hoist  the  French  flag  on  the  staif."  The  order  was  promptly 
obeyed.  The  Indians  made  a  simultaneous  movement,  expressive  of  their  sa- 
tisiiiction  ;  and  in  the  course  of  a  minute,  the  tall  warrior,  accompanied  by 
nearly  a  dozen  inferior  chiefs,  was  seen  slowly  advancing  across  the  common 
towards  the  group  of  officers. 

'■  What  generous  confidence  the  fellow  has  for  an  Indian  !"  observed  Captain 
Er.skine,  who  could  not  disseml)le  his  admiration  of  the  warrior.  •'  He  steps 
as  firmly  and  as  proudly  within  reach  of  our  muskets,  as  if  he  was  leading  in 
the  war-dance." 

'•  How  strange,"  mused  Captain  Blessington,  "  that  one  who  meditates  so 
deep  a  treachery,  should  have  no  apprehension  of  it  in  others  !■' 

"  It  is  a  compliment  to  the  honor  of  our  flag,"  observed  the  governor, 
'•  which  it  must  be  our  interest  to  encourage.  If,  as  you  say,  Erskine,  the  man 
is  really  endowed  with  generosity,  the  result  of  this  affair  will  assuredly  call 
it  forth." 

"'  If  it  prove  otherwise,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  "we  must  only  attribute  his 
perseverance  to  the  influence  which  that  terrible  warrior  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis 
is  said  to  exei-cise  over  his  better  feelings.  By  the  by,  I  see  nothing  of  him 
among  this  flag  of  truce  part}'.  It  could  .scarcely  be  called  a  violation  of  faith 
to  cut  off  such  a  rascally  renegade.  Were  he  of  the  number  of  those  ad- 
vancing, and  Yalletort's  rifle  within  my  reach.  I  know  not  what  use  I  might 
not  be  tempted  to  make  of  the  last." 

Poor  Eiskine  was  singular^  infelicitous  in  touching,  and  ever  unconsciously, 
on  a  subject  sure  to  give  pain  to  more  than  one  of  his  brother  officers.  A 
cloud  passed  over  the  brow  of  the  governor,  but  it  was  one  that  originated 
more  in  sorrow  than  in  anger.  Neither  had  lie  time  to  linger  on  the  painful 
recollections  hastily  and  confusedly  called  uj)  by  the  allusion  made  to  this  for- 
midable and  mysterious  being,  for  the  attention  of  all  was  now  absorbed  by 
the  approaching  Indians.  With  a  bold  and  confiding  carriage  the  fierce  Pon- 
teac  moved  at  the  head  of  his  little  party,  nor  hesitated  one  moment  in  his 
course  until  he  got  near  the  brink  of  the  ditch,  and  stood  f;ice  to  llice  with  the 
governor,  at  a  distance  that  gave  both  parties  not  only  the  facility  of  tracing 
the  expression  of  each  other's  features,  but  of  conversing  without  effort. 
There  he  made  a  sudden  stand,  and  thrusting  his  spear  into  the  earth,  as- 
sumed an  attitude  as  devoid  of  apprehension  as  if  he  had  been  in  the  heart  of 
his  own  encampment. 

"  My  father  has  understood  my  sign,"  said  the  haughty  chief  The  war- 
riors of  a  dozen  tribes  are  far  behind  the  path  the  Ottawa  chief  has  just 
travelled  ;  but  when  the  red  skin  comes  unarmed,  the  hand  of  the  Saganaw 
is  tied  behind  his  back." 

"  The  strong  hold  of  the  Saganaw  is  his  safeguard,"  replied  the  governor, 
adopting  the  language  of  the  Indian.  "  When  the  enemies  of  his  great  father 
come  in  strength,  he  knows  how  to  dispei'se  them  ;  but  when  a  warrior  throws 
himself  unarmed  into  his  power,  he  respects  his  confidence,  and  his  arms  hang 
rusting  at  his  side." 

''  The  talk  of  my  father  is  big,"  replied  the  warrior,  with  a  scornful  expres- 
sion that  seemed  to  doubt  the  fact  of  so  much  indifference  as  to  himself;  "  but 
when  it  is  a  great  chief  who  directs  the  nations,  and  that  chief  his  sworn  ene- 
my, the  temptation  to  the  Saganaw  may  be  strong." 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      O  U  ,     T  H  K      P  K  0  1'  H  E  C  Y  .  79 

"The  SaLianuw  is  without  li'ar,'' oiniiliaticiilly  irjuiiu'd  the  p;overnor ;  "he 
is  stroHLi-  in  his  own  honor  ;  and  ho  would  ratlier  (he  under  the  tomahawk  of 
the  red  skin,  tlian  procure  a  peace  hy  an  sict  of  treacliery." 

The  IntHan  i)aiised;  cold,  aihu  looks  of  intelhgenee  passed  between  him 
and  his  follo\\ers,  and  a  few  indistinct  and  guttural  st'ntenecs  were  exchanged 
among  themselves. 

••  Hut  our  father  asks  not  why  our  mocassins  have  hrushcd  tlie  dew  from 
off  the  connuon,"  resumed  the  chief;  "  and  yet  it  is  long  since  the  Saganaw  and 
the  red  skin  have  spoken  to  each  otlier,  except  through  the  war  whoop.  My 
father  must  wonder  to  see  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  without  the  hatchet 
in  his  hand." 

"  The  hatchet  often  wounds  those  who  use  it  unskilfully,"  camly  retm-ned 
the  governor.  ''  The  Saganaw  is  not  blind.  The  Ottawas  and  the  other 
tribes  find  the  war  paint  heavy  on  their  skins.  They  see  that  my  young  men 
are  not  to  be  conquered,  and  they  have  sent  the  great  head  of  all  "the  nations 
to  sue  for  peace." 

In  s|)ite  of  the  habitual  reserve  and  self-possession  of  his  race,  the  haughty 
■warridi-  could  not  repress  a  movement  of  impatience  at  the  bold  and  taunting 
langiiauc  of  hiv  ruiiiiv .  and  for  a  moment  there  was  a  fire  in  his  eye  that  told 
how  willingly  he  would  have  washed  away  the  insult  in  his  blood.  The  same 
low  guttural  exclamations  that  previously  escaped  their  lips,  marked  the  sense" 
entertained  of  the  remark  by  his  companions. 

•'  My  father  is  right,"  pursued  the  chief,  resuming  his  self-command  ;  •'  the 
Ottawas  and  the  other  tribes  ask  for  peace,  but  not  because  they  are  afraid 
of  war.  When  they  strike  the  hatchet  into  the  war  post,  they  leave  it  there 
until  their  enemies  ask  them  to  take  it  out." 

•'  Why  come  they  now,  then,  to  ask  for  peace  ?"  Avas  the  cool  demand. 
The  warrior  hesitated,  evidently  at  a  loss  to  give  a  reply  that  could  reconcile 
the  palpable  contradiction  of  his  words.  "  The  rich  furs  of  our  forests  have 
become  many,"  he  at  length  observed,  "  since  we  first  took  up  the  hatchet 
against  the  Saganaw  ;  and  every  bullet  we  keep  for  our  enemies  is  a  loss  to 
our  trade.  We  once  exchanged  furs  with  the  children  of  our  father  of  the 
pale  flag.  They  gave  us,  in  return,  guns,  blankets,  powdei-,  ball,  and  all 
that  the  red  man  requires  in  the  hunting  season.  These  are  all  expended ; 
and  my  young  men  would  deal  with  the  Saganaw  as  they  did  with  the 
French." 

"  Good  ;  the  red  skins  would  make  peace  ;  and  although  the  arm  of  the 
Saganaw  is  strong,  he  will  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  their  desire." 

''  All  the  strongholds  of  the  Saganaw,  except  two,  have  fallen  before  the 
great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  !"  proudly  returned  the  Indian,  with  a  look  of 
mingled  scorn  and  defiance.  ''  They,  too,  thought  themselves  beyond  the 
reach  of  our  tomahawks  ;  they  were  deceived.  In  less  than  a  single  moon 
nine  of  them  have  fallen,  and  the  tents  of  my  young  warriors  are  darkened 
with  their  scalps ;  but  this  is  past.  If  the  red  skin  asks  for  peace,  it  is  be- 
cause he  is  tired  of  seeing  the  blood  of  the  Saganaw  on  his  tomahawk.  Does 
my  father  hear '?" 

•■  AVe  will  listen  to  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas,  and  hear  what  he  has  to 
say,"  returned  the  governor,  who,  as  well  as  the  officers  at  his  side,  could  with 
difficulty  conceal  their  disgust  and  sorrow  at  the  dreadful  intelligence  thus 
imparted  of  the  fates  of  their  companions.  "  But  peace,"  he  pursued  with 
dignity,  "  can  only  be  made  in  the  councU-room,  and  under  the  saci-ed  pledge 
of  the  calumet.  The  great  chief  has  a  wampum  belt  on  his  shoulder,  and  a 
calumet  in  his  hand.  Ilis  aged  warriors,  too,  are  at  his  side.  What  says  the 
Ottawa  ?  Will  he  enter  ?  If  so,  the  gate  of  the  Saganaw  shall  be  open  to 
him."  The  warrior  started  ;  and  for  a  moment  the  confidence  that  had  hith- 
erto distinguished  him  seemed  to  give  place  to  an  apprehension  of  meditated 
treachery.  He,  however,  speedily  recovered  himself,  and  observed  emphati- 
cally. •'  It  is  the  great  head  of  all  the  nations  whom  my  father  invites  to  the 


80  W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      PROPHECY. 

council  scat.  Were  he  to  remain  in  tlie  hands  of  the  Saganaw,  his  young 
men  would  lose  their  strength.  They  would  bur}'  the  hatchet  for  ever  in 
despair,  and  hide  their  faces  in  the  laps  of  their  women." 

'•  IJoes  the  Ottawa  chief  see  the  pale  flag  on  the  stronghold  of  his  enemies  1 
While  that  continues  to  fly  he  is  safe  as  if  he  were  under  the  cover  of  his 
own  wigwam.  If  the  Saganaw  could  use  guile  like  the  fox,  Cand  this  was 
said  with  marked  emphasis,)  what  should  prevent  him  from  cutting  off  the 
Ottawa  and  his  chiefs,  even  where  they  now  stand  ?"  A  half  smile  of  derision 
passed  over  the  dark  cheek  of  the  Indian.  "  If  the  arm  of  the  Ottav/a  is 
strong."  he  .said,  "  his  foot  is  not  less  swift.  The  short  guns  of  the  chiefs  of 
the  Sanganaw  (pointing  to  the  pistols  of  the  officers)  could  not  reach  us ; 
and  before  the  voice  of  our  father  could  be  raised,  or  his  eye  turned,  to  call 
his  warriors  to  his  side,  the  Ottawa  would  be  already  far  on  his  way  to  the 
forest." 

"  The  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  shall  judge  better  of  the  Saganaw,"  re- 
turned the  governor.  "  He  shall  see  that  his  young  men  are  ever  v\'atchful  at 
their  posts  : — Up,  men,  and  ,show  yourselves."  A  second  or  two  sufficed  to 
bring  the  whole  of  Captain  Erskine's  company,  who  had  been  lying  flat  on 
their  faces,  to  their  feet  on  the  rampart.  The  Indians  were  evidently  taken 
by  surprise,  though  they  evinced  no  fear.  The  low  and  guttural  '•  ugh ! " 
was  the  only  expiession  thcj'  gave  to  their  astonishment,  not  unmingled  with 
admiration. 

But,  although  the  chiefs  preserved  their  presence  of  mind,  the  sudden  ap- 
pearance of  the  soldiers  had  excited  alarm  among  their  warrioi'S,  who,  grouped 
in  and  around  the  bomb-proof,  were  watching  every  movement  of  tiie  confer- 
ring parties,  with  an  interest  proportioned  to  the  risk  they  conceived  tlieir 
head  men  had  incurred  in  venturing  under  the  very  walls  of  their  enemies. 
Fierce  yells  were  uttered ;  and  more  than  a  hundred  dusky  wariiors,  brand- 
ishing their  tomahawks  in  air,  leaped  along  the  skirt  of  the  common,  evidentlj'" 
onlj'-  awaiting  tiie  signal  of  their  great  chief,  to  advance  and  cover  his  retreat. 
At  the  command  of  the  governor,  however,  the  men  had  again  suddenly  dis- 
appeared from  the  surface  of  the  rampart ;  so  that  when  the  Indians  flnalh^ 
perceived  their  leader  stood  unharmed  and  unmolested,  on  the  spot  ho  had 
prcviou.sly  occupied,  the  excitement  died  away,  and  they  once  more  assumed 
their  attitude  of  profound  attention. 

"  AYhat  thinks  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  now  ?"  a,<^ked  the  governor; — 
did  he  imagine  that  the  young  white  men  lie  sleeping  like  beavers  in  their 
dams,  when  the  hunter  sets  his  traps  to  catch  them  ? — did  he  imagine  that 
they  foresee  not  the  designs  of  their  enemies  ?  and  that  they  are  not  always 
on  the  watch  to  prevent  them  ?" 

'•  My  father  is  a  grepvt  warrior,"  returned  the  Indian  ;  "  and  if  his  arm  is 
fuU  of  strength,  his  head  is  full  of  wisdom.  The  chiefs  will  no  longer  hesitate; 
— they  will  enter  the  stronghold  of  the  Saganaw,  and  sit  with  him  in  the 
council."  He  next  addressed  a  few  words,  and  in  a  language  not  understood 
by  those  upon  the  walls,  to  one  of  the  younger  of  the  Indians.  The  latter  ac- 
knowledged his  sense  and  approbation  of  what  was  said  to  him  by  an  assen- 
tient  and"  expressive  "  ugh  !"  which  came  from  his  chest  without  any  apparent 
motion  of  the  lips,  much  in  the  manner  of  a  modern  ventriloquist.  He  then 
hastened,  with  rapid  and  lengthened  boundings,  across  the  common  towards 
his  band.  After  the  lapse  of  a  minute  or  two  from  reaching  them,  another 
simultaneous  cry  arose,  differing  in  expression  from  anj-  that  had  hitherto 
been  heard.  It  was  one  denoting  submission  to  the  will,  and  compliance  with 
some  conveyed  desire,  of  their  superior. 

"  Is  the  gate  of  the  Saganaw  open?"  asked  the  latter,  as  soon  as  his  ear  had 
been  greeted  with  the  cry  we  have  just  named.  "  The  Ottawa  and  the  other 
great  chiefs  are  ready ; — -their  hearts  are  bold,  and  they  throw  themselves  into 
the  hands  of  the  Sag'anaw  without  fear." 

"  Tlie  Ottawa  chief  knows  tlie  path,"  drily  rejoined  the  governor :  "  when 


\V  A  C  O  II  S  T  A 


THE     PROPHECY.  81 


he  comes  in  peace,  it  is  ever  open  to  liiiu ;  hut  when  liis  young  men  press  it 
with  the  tomahawk  in  their  hands,  the  big  thimder  is  roused  to  anger,  and 
they  arc  scattered  away  hke  the  leaves  of  the  forest  in  the  storm.  Even  now," 
he  pursued,  as  the  little  band  of  Indians  moved  slowly  round  the  walls,  "the 
g-ate  of  the  Saganaw  opens  for  the  Ottawa  and  the  other  chiefs." 

''  Lot  the  most  vigilant  caution  be  used  everywhere  along  the  works,  but 
especially  in  the  rear,"  continued  the  governor,  addressing  Captain  Blessing- 
ton,  on  whom  the  duty  of  the  daj-  had  devolved.  "  We  are  safe,  while  their 
chiefs  are  with  us  ;  ))ut  still  it  will  be  necessary  to  watch  the  forest  closely. 
We  cannot  be  too  much  on  ouv  guard.  The  men  had  better  remain  concealed, 
every  twentieth  file  only  standing  up  to  form  a  look-out  chain.  If  any  move- 
ment of  a  suspicious  nature  be  observed,  let  it  be  communicated  by  the  dis- 
charge of  a  single  musket,  that  the  drawbridge  may  be  raised  on  the  instant." 
With  the  delivery  of  these  brief  instructions  he  quitted  the  rampart  with  the 
majority  of  his  offirors.  Meanwhile,  hasty  iircparations  had  been  made  in  the 
mess-room  to  roceni.'  tlie  chiels.  The  tables  had  been  removed,  and  a  number 
of  clean  rush  niavs.  r.ianufactured  after  the  Indian  manner,  into  various  lig-ures 
and  devices,  spread  carefully  on  the  floor.  At  the  further  end  from  the  en- 
trance was  placed  a  small  table  and  chair,  covered  with  scarlet  cloth.  This 
was  considerably  elevated  above  the  sudace  of  the  floor,  and  intended  for  the 
governor.  On  either  side  of  the  room  near  these,  were  ranged  a  number  of 
chairs  for  the  accommodation  of  the  inferior  oiBcers. 

Major  Blackwater  received  the  chiefs  at  the  gate.  With  a  firm,  proud  step, 
rendered  more  confident  by  his  very  unwillingness  to  betray  anything  like 
fear,  the  tall,  and,  as  Captain  Erskine  had  justly  designated  him,  the  noble- 
looking  Ponteac  trod  the  yielding  planks  that  nught  in  the  next  moment  cut 
him  off  from  his  people  for  ever.  The  other  chiefs,  following  thee  xample  of 
their  leader,  evinced  the  same  easy  fearlessness  of  demeanor,  nor  glanced  once 
behind  them  to  see  if  there  was  anything  to  justify  the  apprehension  of  hidden 
danger. 

The  Ottawa  was  cvidentl}-  mortified  at  not  being  received  by  the  governor 
in  person.  "  My  father  is  \\'<l  Iumh-  !"  he  said  fiercelj^  to  the  major  : — "  how  is 
this?  The  Ottawa  and  ;lu'  niMtr  'iiief  are  Idngs  of  all  their  tribes.  The  head 
of  one  great  people  should  be  received  only  by  the  head  of  another  great 
people  !" 

"  Our  father  sits  in  the  council-hall,"  returned  the  major.  "  He  has  taken 
his  seat  that  he  may  receive  t'ne  Avarriors  with  becoming  honor.  But  I  am 
the  second  chief,  and  ouv  father  hns  sent  me  to  receive  them."  To  the  proud 
spirit  of  the  Indian  this  explanation  scarcely  suSiced.  For  a  moment  he  seemed 
to  struggle,  as  endeavorin!;-  to  stiilc  lus  keen  sense  of  an  affront  put  upon  him. 
Atlength  he  nodded  his  luad  linn.glitilyand  condescendingly,  in  token  of  assent; 
and  gathering  up  his  noli]i'  fm  in.  and  swelling  out  his  chest,  as  with  a  view  to 
strike  terror  as  well  as  ailiui.Hlion  into  the  hearts  of  those  by  whom  he  ex- 
pected to  be  sm-roundcd.  sUi'.lceil  majestically  forward  at  the  head  of  his  con- 
federates. 

An  indifferent  observer,  or  one  ignorant  of  these  people,  would  have  been 
at  fault ;  but  those  who  understood  the  workings  of  an  Indian's  spirit  could 
not  have  been  deceived  by  the  tranquil  exterior  of  these  men.  The  rapid,  keen, 
and  lively  glance — the  suppressed  sneer  of  exultation — the  half  start  of  sur- 
prise— the  low,  gutteral,  and  almost  inaudible  "ugh!" — all  these  indicated 
the  eagerness  with  which,  at  one  sly  but  compendious  view,  they  embraced 
the  whole  interior  of  a  fort  whicli  it  was  of  such  vital  importance  to  their  future 
interests  they  should  become  possessed  of.  yet  which  they  had  so  long  and  so 
unsuccessfully  attempted  tj  subdue.  As  they  advanced  into  the  square,  they 
looked  around,  expecting  to  behold  the  full  array  of  their  enemies ;  but,  to 
their  atonishment,  not  a  soldier  was  to  be  seen.  A  few  women  and  children 
only,  in  whom  curiosit}'  hatl  overcome  a  natural  loathing  and  repugnance  to 
the  savages,  were  peeping  from  the  windovrs  of  the  block-houses.     Even  at  a 


83  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy. 

moment  like  the  present,  the  fierce  instinct  of  these  latter  was  not  to  be  con- 
trolled. One  of  the  children,  terrified  at  the  wild  appearance  of  the  warriors, 
screamed  violently,  and  clung  to  the  bosom  of  its  mother  for  protection.  Fired 
at  the  sound,  a  young  chief  raised  his  hand  to  his  lips,  and  was  about  to  peal 
forth  his  terrible  war  whoop  in  the  centre  of  the  fort,  when  the  eye  of  the 
Ottawa  suddenly  arrested  him. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

There  were  few  forms  of  courtesy  observed  by  the  warriors  towards  the 
English  officers  on  entering  the  council  room.  Ponteac,  who  had  collected  aU 
his  native  haughtiness  into  one  proud  expression  of  look  and  figure,  strode  in 
without  taking  the  slightest  notice  even  of  the  governor.  The  other  chiefs 
imitated  his  example,  and  all  took  their  seats  upon  the  matting  in  the  order  pre- 
scribed by  their  rank  among  the  tribes,  and  their  experience  in  council.  The 
Ottawa  chief  sat  at  the  near  extremity  of  the  room,  and  immediately  facing 
the  governor.  A  profound  silence  was  observed  for  some  minutes  after  the 
Indians  had  seated  themselves,  during  which  they  proceeded  to  fill  their  pipes. 
The  handle  of  that  of  the  Ottawa  chief  was  decorated  with  numerous  feathers 
fancifully  disposed. 

"  This  is  well,"  at  length  observed  the  governor.  "  It  is  long  since  the  great 
chiefs  of  the  nations  have  smoked  the  sweet  grass  in  the  council-hall  of  the 
Saganaw.  What  have  they  to  say,  that  their  young  men  may  have  peace  to 
hunt  the  beaver,  and  to  leave  the  print  of  their  mocassins  in  the  country  of 
the  buflalo  ?     What  says  the  Ottawa  chief?" 

"  The  Ottawa  chief  is  a  great  warrior,"  returned  the  other,  haughtily  ;  and 
again  repudiating,  in  the  indomitablencss  of  his  pride,  the  very  views  that  a 
more  artful  policy  had  first  led  him  to  avow.  "  He  has  already  said  that, 
within  a  single  moon,  nine  of  the  strongholds  of  the  Saganaw  have  fallen  into 
his  hands,  and  that  the  scalps  of  the  white  men  fill  the  tents  of  his  warriors. 
If  the  red  skins  wish  for  peace,  it  is  because  they  are  sick  with  si^illing  the 
blood  of  their  enemies.     Does  my  fethcr  hear  ?" 

"  The  Ottawa  has  been  cunning  like  the  fox,"  camly  returned  the  governor. 
"  He  went  with  deceit  on  his  lips,  and  said  to  the  gi-eat  cliiefs  of  the  strong- 
holds of  the  Saganaw, — '  You  have  no  more  forts  upon  the  lakes  ;  they  have 
all  fallen  before  the  red  skins  :  they  gave  themselves  into  our  hands ;  and  we 
spared  their  lives,  and  sent  them  down  to  the  great  towns  near  the  salt  lake.' 
But  this  was  false :  the  chiefs  of  the  Saganaws  believing  what  was  said  to 
them,  gave  up  their  strong  holds ;  but  their  lives  were  not  spared,  and  the 
grass  of  the  Canadas  is  yet  moist  with  their  blood.     Does  the  Ottawa  hear  ?" 

Amazement  and  stupefaction  sat  for  a  moment  on  the  features  of  the  Indi- 
ans. The  fact  was  as  had  been  stated  ;  and  yet,  so  completely  had  the  several 
forts  been  cut  olf  from  all  communication,  it  was  deemed  almost  impossible 
one  could  have  received  tidings  of  the  fate  of  the  other,  unless  conveyed 
through  the  Indians  themselves. 

"  The  spies  of  the  Saganaw  have  been  very  quick  to  escape  the  vigilance  of 
the  red  skins,"  at  length  replied  the  Ottawa ;  "  yet  they  have  returned  with 
a  lie  upon  their  lips.  I  swear  by  the  Great  Spirit,  that  nine  of  the  strong- 
holds of  the  Saganaw  have  been  destroyed.  How  could  the  Ottawa  go  with 
deceit  upon  his  lips,  when  his  words  were  truth  ?" 

"  When  the  red  skins  said  so  to  the  warriors  of  the  last  forts  they  took, 
they  said  true  ;  but  when  they  went  to  the  first,  and  said  that  all  the  rest  had 
fallen,  they  used  deceit.  A  great  nation  should  overcome  their  enemies  like 
warriors,  and  not  seek  to  beguile  them  with  their  tongues  under  the  edge  of 
the  scalping  knife  ! " 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.       8S' 

"Why  (lid  tlieSasmiiiwoome  into  the  couiUry  of  the  red  skins?"  hanglitily 
demanded  the  ehiei'.  "  AVhy  did  they  take  our  hunting  grounds  from  us? 
Why  have  Ihey  strong  phu'es  encirchng  the  country  of  the  Indians,  like  a 
belt  ol'  wainpuni  round  the  waist  of  a  wtu'rior  ?" 

'•  This  is  not  true,"  rejoined  the  governor.  "  It  wa.s  not  the  Saganaw,  but 
tlie  warriors  of  the  pale  flag,  who  first  came  and  took  away  the  hunting 
grounds,  and  built  the  strong  places.  The  great  father  of  the  Saganaw  had 
beaten  the  great  father  of  the  pale  flag  ([uite  out  of  the  ( 'anadas,  and  he  sent 
his  young  men  to  take  their  place  and  to  make  peace  with  the  red  skins,  and 
to  trade  with  them,  and  to  call  them  brothers.." 

'■  'I'he  Saganaw  was  false,"  retorted  the  Indian.  "  When  a  chief  of  the 
Saganaw  came  for  the  first  time  with  his  warriors  into  the  country  of  the 
Ottawas,  the  chief  of  the  Ottawas  stood  in  his  path,  and  asked  him  why,  and 
from  whom  he  came  '?  That  chief  was  a  bold  warrior,  and  his  heart  was 
open,  and  the  Ottawa  liked  him  ;  and  when  he  said  he  came  to  be  friendly 
with  the  i-cd  skins,  the  Ottawa  believed  him,  and  he  shook  him  by  the  hand, 
and  said  to  his  young  men,  •  Touch  not  the  life  of  a  Saganaw ;  for  their  chief 
is  the  friend  of  the  Ottawa  chief,  and  his  J'oung  men  shall  be  the  friends  of 
the  red  warriors.'  Look7'  he  proceeded,  marking  his  sense  of  the  discovery 
by  another  of  those  ejaculatory  '•  ughs ! "  so  expressive  of  .surprise  in  an  In- 
dian, "at  the  right  hand  of  my  fatliei-  I  see  h  iliitu"  nninting  to  Captain 
Er.skine,  "  who  came  with  those  of  tlio  Saii:iii:;v>'  who  ;;i-i  c;ite]-ed  the  country 
of  the  Detroit ; — ask  that  chief  if  what  the  Ottaw  a  sa^  s  is  not  true.  When 
the  Saganaw  said  he  came  onl}-  to  remove  the  warriors  of  the  pale  flag,  that 
he  might  be  friendl^r  and  trade  witli  the  red  skins,  the  Ottawa  received  the- 
belt  of  wampun'  Ic  ottliO'l.  aii'I  ^niokoil  the  pipe  of  peace  with  him,  and  he 
made  his  men  iiviim  ii;:_~  ■■'>  ;  wicli'  '1  ' urn  to  his  warriors  who  wanted  food, 
and  he  sent  to  all  ilic  i'.ruiui's  mi  tlie  lakes.  and  said  to  them,  •  The  Sagana'sr 
nmst  pass  unhm-t  to  the  stioi:i;-  liuM  on  tiie  Ik'troit.'  But  for  the  Ottawa, 
not  a  Saganaw  would  have  escaped  ;  fur  the  nations  were  thirsting  for  their 
blood,  and  the  knives  of  the  warriors  were  eager  to  open  their  scalps.  Ask 
the  chief  who  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  my  father,"  he  again  energetically  re- 
peated. "  if  what  the  Ottawa  says  is  not  true." 

"  What  the  Ottawa  saj'S  is  trne,"  rejoined  the  governor ;  for  the  chief  wbo 
sits  on  my  right  hand  has  often  said  that,  but  for  the  Ottawa,  the  small  num- 
ber of  the  warriors  of  the  Saganaw^  must  have  been  cut  off;  and  his  heart  is 
big  with  kindness  to  the  Ottawa  for  what  he  did.  But  if  the  great  chief 
meant  to  be  fi'iendly,  why  did  he  declare  war  after  smoking  the  pipe  of  peace 
wnth  the  Saganaw  ?  Why  did  he  destroy  the  wigwams  of  the  settlers,  and 
cai-ry  of!'  the  scalps  even  of  their  weak  w^omen  and  children  1  AU  this  has 
the  Ottawa  done  ;  and  yet  he  sa3'S  that  he  wished  to  be  friendly  with  my 
young  men.  But  tlie  Saganaw  is  not  a  fool.  He  knows  the  Ottawa  chief 
had  no  will  of  his  own.  On  the  right  hand  of  the  Ottawa  sits  the  great  chief 
of  the  Delawares,  and  on  his  left  the  great  chief  of  the  Shawanees.  They 
have  long  been  the  sworn  enemies  of  the  Saganaw  ;  and  they  came  from  the 
rivers  that  run  near  the  salt  lake  to  stir  up  the  red  skins  of  the  Detroit  to 
wai-.  They  whisperetl  wicked  words  in  the  ear  of  the  Ottawa  chief,  and  he 
determined  to  take  up  the  bloody  hatchet.  This  is  a  shame  to  a  great  war- 
rior. The  Ottawa  was  a  king  over  all  the  tribes  in  the  country  of  the  fresh 
lakes,  and  yet  he  weakly  took  council  like  a  woman  from  another." 

••  Jly  father  lies  !"  fiercely  retorted  the  warrior,  half  springiiig  to  his  feet, 
and  involuntarily  putting  his  hand  upon  his  tomahawk.  '•  If  the  settlers  of 
the  Saganaw  have  fallen,"  he  resumed  in  a  calmer  tone,  wliile  he  again  sank 
upon  his  mat,  ■'  it  is  because  they  did  not  keep  their  faith  with  the  red  skins. 
When  they  came  weak,  and  were  not  secure  in  their  strong  holds,  their 
tongties  were  smooth  and  full  ,of  soft  words ;  but  when  they  became  sti-OBg- 
under  the  protection  of  their  thunder,  they  no  longer  treated  the  red  skins 
as  their  friends,  and  they  Liughed  at  them  for  Icfdiiij  them  come  into  their 


S4  M'  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      P  R  O  V  H  E  C  Y  . 

country.  I>ut."  lie  pursii."';,  elevatin,'::  his  voice.  '•  tlic  Ottawa  is  a  great  chief, 
and  he  will  bo  respected."  Then  adverting  in  bitterness  to  the  intiuence  sup- 
posed to  be  exercised  over  him — "  V^hat  my  lather  has  said  is  false.  Tho 
Shaw'nvi  '^  ;  ini  I  lie  Delavaircs  Jiad  no  talk  with  the  Ottawa  chief  to  make  liim 
do  1.:.      '  .  i.-isdoni  did  not  tell  him." 

■' ':  alk  came  not  from  the  Shawanees  and  the  Delawares,  it 

came  iron;  ;  •!;■  ;-pie.N  of  the  vrarrioi's  of  the  pale  tiag.  The  great  father  of  the 
French  vv'as  angrj-  with  tlie  great  father  of  the  Saganaw,  because  he  conquered 
his  waixiors  in  many  Ijattles  ;  and  he  ?ent  Avicked  meiy  to  whisper  lies  of  the 
Saganaw  into  the  cars  of  the  I'ed  slvins,  and  to  make  them  take  up  the  hatchet 
against  them.  Tliere  is  a  tjill  spy  at  this  moment  in  the  camp  of  the  rod 
skins."  he  pursued  with  earnestness,  and  yet  paling  as  he  spoke.  "  It  is  said 
lie  is  <ho  ])o,-oiii  !Ticii :!  of  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas.  Bnt  I  will  not  be- 
lieve it.  '!'!;(■  ]\i-i'[  ni'n  great  nation  would  not  be  the  friend  of  a  spy — of  one 
who  is  baser  than  a  dog.  His  people  v,'ould  despise  him  ;  and  they  would 
say,  '  Our  cliief  is  not  fit  to  sit  isi  (■in<]i'-ii.  or  to  make  war  ;  for  he  is  led  bj^ 
the  word  of  a  pale  face  who  is  wivlirut  honor.'  " 

The  sw;iii!:  V  rl^rk  of  i  r.c  iiKi:;':!  reddened,  and  his  eye  kindled  into  fire. 
"Therv  iy.  ri.>  '\ ,  in:;  -i  ;:;■>■:>■  ;..,niir  in  the  camp  of  the  Ottawas,"  he  fierce- 
ly replied.  •  i'ii'ri.'i  li  ■  i;;!i;i,'  !riiiv.  the  country  that  lies  beyond  the  salt 
lake,  he  is  ikv,-  a  <  ii:  'of  the  red  skins,  and  his  arm  is  mighty,  and  his  heart 
is  big.  Woti:.i  ;,i ,  ii;'ii  T  know  why  he  has  become  a  chief  of  the  Ottawas?" 
he  pm-sued  wiiit  m.  ..aul  exultation".  '' Wh.en  the  strong  holds  of  the  Saga- 
naw  fell,  the  taiuahm-.k  !;i'  i]'.v  •  whito  warrior'  drank  more  blood  than  that 
of  a  red  skiu.  and  liis  t.iil  is  ]uuv2:  rumsil  wilji  5>()k-s  bending  under  the  weight 
of  the  seal]  -  1,  1  ..kcn.  When  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  dies,  the 
pale  face  wii  i  .  ,  '  ,  arriors,  and  take  the  first  seat  in  the  council.  The  Ot- 
tawa chief  \.-    ■'■  '   '  '' 

"If  the  !  :'■  ■'  '  h<_'  i'rii'iid  of  the  Ott;iw,'i."  pursued  the  governor,  in 
the  hoj)e  of  ■,  "  t        .■;  i-   jiriTti-niar  intrlliuviice  in  regard  to  this  terrible 

and  mysi (•!,;;:  '  -,-.  '■'■,■  ■  '■  lol  hero  to  sit  in  council  with  the  chiefs ? 
Perhai:.^."  l-.v  ].voc,-;m!('1  i  .  ,  ;;  ,;,  ,■  ;  lie  fancied  he  perceived  a  disinclination 
•on  the  [>art,  ori;ie  iiuli.;:  ■  j  :  ■  i  ;  ;;>r  ti)e  absence  of  the  vrarrior,  ''the  pale 
face  is  not  v.oi-l'iy  lo  t.-Jce  his  place  among  the  head  men  of  the  council.  His 
arm  may  b<.'  strong  like  that  of  a  warrior,  but  his  head  may  be  weak  like  that 
of  a  -woman  ;  or,  perhaps,  he  is  ashamed  to  show  himself  liefore  the  pale 
faces,  who  have  turned  him  out  of  their  tribe." 

"  My  father  lies  !"  again  unceremoniously  retorted  the  warrior.  "  If  the 
friend  of  the  Ottawa  is  not  here,  it  is  because  his  voice  cannot  speak.  Does 
my  father  recoil  vet  tiie  bridge  on  which  he  killed  his  young  warrior  ?  Does 
he  recollect  the  tcvriMe  chase  of  the  pale  face  by  the  friend  of  the  Ottawa? 
Ugh  !"  he  continued,  ;is  his  attention  was  now  diverted  to  another  object  of 
interest,  '-thatjjale  face  was  swifter  than  any  runner  among  the  red  skins, 
and  for  his  tiectncss  he  deserved  to  live  to  be  a  great  hunter  in  the  Oanadas; 
but  fear  broke  his  heart — fcai-  of  the  friend  of  the  Ottawa  chief.  The  red 
skins  saw  him  fall  at  the  feet  of  the  Sagana^w  without  life,  and  they  saw  the 
young  warriors  bear  him  oft"  in  their  arms.  Is  not  the  Ottawa  right  ?  The 
Indian  paused,  threw  his  eye  rapidly  along  the  room,  and  then,  fixing  it  on 
the  governor,  seemed  to  wait  with  deep  but  suppressed  interest  for  his  reply. 

•'  Peace  to  the  Ijones  of  a  brave  wariior  !"  seriously  and  evasively  returned 
the  governor:  •'  the  pale  face  is  no  longer  in  the  land  of  the  Canadas,  and  the 
young  -warriors  of  the  Saganaw  are  sorry  for  his  loss ;  but  what  woidd  the  Ot- 
tawa say  of  the  bridge  ?  and  what  has  the  pale  warrior,  the  friend  of  the  Ot- 
tawa, to  do  with  it  ?" 

A  gleam  of  satisfaction  pervaded  the  countenance  of  the  Indian,  as  he  eag- 
erly bent  his  ea.r  to  receive  the  assurance  that  the  fugitive  was  no  more ;  but 
when  allusion  was  made  to  the  strange  warrior,  his  brow  became  overcast,  and 
he  replied  ^vith   mingled  haughtiness  and  anger, — "  Does  m}-  father  ask  ? 


W  A  C  O  II  S  T  A  ;      0  R  ,     'V  II  1'.      1'  K  O  V  H  K  C  Y  .  ISO 

He  lias  (lojjs  of  spies  aiaon.i;;  the  settlevri  o{"  the  pule  Hag,  but  the  tomahawk 
of  the  rod  skins  will  lind  them  out,  and  they  shall  perish  even  as  the  Saga- 
iiaw  themselves.  'I'wo  nig-hts  a;i(),  when  the  warriors  of  the  Ott?.was  weie 
returning'  from  the  scont  u})on  the  common,  they  heard  the  voice  of  Onondato, 
the  wolf-dog  of  the  friend  of  the  Ottawa  chief.  The  voice  came  from  the 
bridge  Avhere  the  Saganaw  killed  his  j'oung  warrior,  and  it  called  upon  the  red 
skins  for  assistance.  ^ly  young  men  gave  their  war  cr}',  and  ran  like  wild 
deer  to  destroy  the  enemies  of  their  chief;  but  when  they  came  the  spies  had 
lied,  and  the  A'oice  of  Onoinln'n  \'  :,s  low  and  Aveak  as  that  of  a  neA\"  fawn  ;  and 
when  the  warriors  came  in  lI.  .■  :ii'r  end  of  the  bridge,  they  found  the  pale 
chief  lying  across  the  ron'i  :nii!  tdvored  over  vrith  blood.  They  thought  he 
was  dead,  and  their  cry  was  terrible  ;  for  the  pale  warrior  is  a  grciit  chief,  and 
the  Ottawas  love  him ;  but  when  they  looked  again,  tliey  saw  that  the  blood 
was  the  blood  of  Onondato,  whose  throtit  the  siiies  of  tlie  s;  ../:>>,■.■■,-  l.-vl  I'ut,  that 
he  might  not  hunt  them  and  give  them  to  11  !■  u>  ■i:'ii  skins.'' 

Frequent  glances,  expressive  of  their  deeji  iiili  rest  in  nont  of 

this  iiitdligLMU'c,  jiassed  between  the  governor  and  iiis<s   -    ;    .  clciir, 

the  iirriN  \>iii>  h,-i(!  encountered  the  terrible  vv^arrior  of  ilj.   '  ■>  -     ,,    oj 

not  sjii's  [\\n-  v.mv:  a\ ere  employed  by  the  garrison),  bi'i  ii:.'  ■■  ,  inv.siis 
companions  who  had  so  recently  quitted  them.  'I'his  Wiis  put  licyuud  all 
doubt  by  the  night,  the  hour,  and  the  not  less  important  fact  of  the  locality ; 
for  it  was  from  the  bridge  described  by  the  Indi;^n.  ucuv  wiiiili  llv  ( 'anadian 
had  stated  his  canoe  to  be  chained,  they  were  to  ti n '  ''ous  and 

imcertain  enterprise.     The  question  of  their  own  in  this 

unlooked  for  collision  with  so  powerful  and  feroii;'  :  >  ,;  :;;,.  a  fid  of  the 
fidelity  of  the  Canadian,  still  remained  involved  in  (i.  ;'ss.  viiidi  it  might  be' 
imprudent,  if  not  dangerous,  to  seek  to  have  resolv.  ■'  r.y  .m;.  ilircct  remark 
on  the  subject  to  the  keen  and  obser\;nii  \\inriM; .  T  i  ,;'i:.-  removed 
this  difficulty  by  artfully  observing, —  ■  The   iii\::i{   (•i;i(  i  ,     was  has 

said  they  were  the  spies  of  the  Saganaw  wlio  killeil  ti;.-  ;.:>•  ,-,  ,;!i  ior.  His 
young  men  have  found  them,  then ;  or  how  could  he  kuon'  they  were  spies  ?" 

"  Is  there  a  warrior  among  the  Saganaw  who  dares  to  show  himself  in  the 
path  of  the  red  skins,  unless  he  come  in  strength  and  surrounded  by  his 
thunder  ?"  was  the  sneering  demand.  "  But  my  father  is  \vroDg  if  he  sup- 
poses the  friend  of  the  Ottawa  is  killed.  No,"  he  pursueil  fiercely,  •'  the  dogs 
of  spies  could  not  kUl  him  ;  they  were  afraid  to  fiice  s<t  terrible  a  warrior. 
They  came  behind  him  in  the  dark,  and  they  struck  liiin  on  tlu>  head  like 
cowards  and  foxes  as  they  were.  The  warrior  of  the  pale  uice,  and  liic  friend 
of  the  Ottawa  chief,  is  sick  but  not  dead.  He  lies  wiiliout  m(;Hon  in  his  tent, 
and  liis  voice  cannot  speak  to  his  friend  to  tell  him  who  v.cje  his  enemies, 
that  he  may  bring  their  scalps  to  hang  up  within  his  wigwain.  But  the  great 
chief  will  soon  be  well,  and  his  arm  will  be  stronger  than  ever  to  spill  the 
blood  of  the  Saganaw  as  he  has  done  before." 

'•  The  talk  of  the  Ottawa  chief  is  strange,"  retm-ned  the  goAcrnor,  emphati- 
cally and  with  dignity.  "  He  says  he  comes  to  smoke  the  jiipe  of  peace  with 
the  Saganaw,  and  yet  he  talks  of  spilling  their  blood  as  if  it  was  water  from, 
the  lake.  What  does  the  Ottawa  mean  ?"  "  Ugh  !"  exclaimed  the  Indian,  in 
his  surprise.  "'  My  father  is  right,  Init  the  Ottawa  and  the  Saganaw  have  not 
j'-et  smoked  together.  When  they  have,  the  hatchet  will  be  buried  for  ever. 
Until  then,  they  are  still  enemies." 

During  this  long  and  important  colloquy  of  the  leading  parties,  the  strictest 
silence  had  been  preserved  by  the  remainder  of  the  council.  The  inferior  chiefs 
had  continued  delilieratdy  i>uffmg  the  smoke  from  their  curled  lips,  as  they 
sat  cross-legged  on  tlieii-  iii;its.  and  nodding  their  heads  at  intervals  in  confir- 
mation of  the  occasi'iH.i'  :i|i!i'  ;d  made  by  the  rapid  glance  of  the  Ottawa,  and 
uttering  their  gutteral  -  I  uii  !''  whenever  any  observation  of  the  parlant  par- 
ties touched  their  fl-eliu'rs,  or  rolled  forth  their  surprise.  The  officers  had  been 
no  less  silent  and  attentive  listeners  to  a  conversation  0]i  t)ie  issue  of  which 


'86  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy. 

liung  so  many  dear  aud  paramount  interests.  A  pause  in  the  conference  gave 
them  an  opportunity  of  commenting  in  a  lo^r  tone  on  the  communication 
made,  in  the  strong  excitement  of  his  pride,  by  the  Ottawa  chief,  in  regard  to 
the  terrible  warrior  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis ;  who,  it  was  evident  swayed  the  coun- 
cils of  the  Indians,  and  consequent!}^  exercised  an  influence  over  the  ultimate 
destinies  of  the  English,  which  it  was  impossible  to  contemplate  without  alarm. 
It  was  evident  to  all,  fi-om  whatsoever  cause  it  might  arise,  this  man  cherished 
a  rancor  towards  certain  individuals  in  the  fort,  inducing  an  anxiet}^  in  its  re- 
duction scarcely  equalled  b}^  that  entertained  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  them- 
selves. Beyond  this,  however,  all  was  mystery-  and  doubt ;  nor  had  any  clue 
been  given  to  enable  them  to  arrive  even  at  a  well  founded  apprehension  of 
the  motives  which  had  given  birth  to  the  vindictivness  of  purpose  so  univer- 
sally ascribed  to  him  even  by  the  savages  themselves. 

The  chiefs  also  availed  themselves  of'this  pause  in  the  conversation  of  the 
principals,  to  sustain  a  low  and  animated  discussion.  Those  of  the  Shawanee 
and  Delaware  nations  were  especially  earnest ;  and,  as  they  spoke  across  the 
Ottawa,  betrayed,  by  their  vehemence  of  gesture,  the  action  of  some  strong 
feeling  upon  their  minds,  the  precise  natm-e  of  which  could  not  be  ascertained 
from  their  speech  at  the  opposite  extremity  of  the  room.  The  Ottawa  did  not 
deign  to  join  in  their  conversation,  but  sat  smoking  his  pipe  in  all  the  calm 
forbidding  dignity  of  a  proud  Indian  warrior  conscious  of  his  own  importance. 

"  Does  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas,  then,  seek  for  peace  in  his  heart  at 
length  1"  resumed  the  governor ;  "  or  is  he  come  to  the  stronghold  of  Detroit, 
as  he  went  to  the  other  strongholds,  with  deceit  on  his  lips  ?"  The  Indian 
slowly  removed  the  pipe  from  his  mouth,  fixed  his  keen  eye  searchingly  on 
that  of  the  questioner  for  neai'ly  a  minute,  and  then  briefly  and  haughtily  said, 
"  The  Ottawa  chief  has  spoken." 

''  And  do  the  great  chiefs  of  the  Shawanees,  and  the  great  chiefs  jof  the  Dela- 
wares.  and  the  great  chiefs  of  the  other  nations,  ask  for  peace  also  7"  demanded 
the  governor.     "  If  so,  let  them  speak  for  themselves,  and  for  their  warriors." 

We  will  not  trespass  on  the  reader  by  a  transcript  of  the  declarations  of  the 
inferior  chiefs.  Each  in  his  turn  avowed  motives  similar  to  those  of  the  Ottawa 
for  wishing  the  hatchet  might  be  buried  for  ever,  and  that  their  young  men 
should  mingle  once  more  in  confidence,  not  only  with  the  English  troops,  but 
with  the  settlers,  who  would  again  be  brought  into  the  country  at  the  cessa- 
tion of  hostilities.  When  each  had  spoken,  the  Ottawa  passed  the  pipe  of 
ceremony,  with  whicli  he  was  provided,  to  the  governor.  The  latter  put  it  to 
his  lips,  and  commenced  smoking.  The  Indians  keenly,  and  half  furtively, 
watched  the  act ;  and  looks  of  deep  intelligence,  that  escaped  not  the  notice  of 
the  equally  anxious  and  observant  officers,  passed  among  them. 

"  The  pipe  of  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  smokes  well,"  calmly  remarked 
the  governor ;  "  but  the  Ottawa  chief,  in  his  hurry  to  come  and  ask  for  peace, 
has  made  a  mistake.  The  pipe  and  all  its  ornaments  are  red  like  blood  :  it  is 
the  pipe  of  war,  and  not  the  pipe  of  peace.  The  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas 
will  be  angry  with  himself;  he  has  entered  the  stronghold  of  the  Saganaw, 
and  sat  in  the  council,  without  doing  any  good  for  his  young  men.  The  Ottawa 
must  come  again." 

A  deep  but  subdued  expression  of  disappointment  passed  over  the  features 
of  the  chiefs.  They  watched  the  countenances  of  the  ofBcers,  to  see  whether 
the  substitution  of  one  pipe  for  the  other  had  been  attributed,  in  their  estima- 
tion, to  accident  or  design.  There  -was  nothing,  however,  to  indicate  the 
slightest  doubt  of  their  sincerity. 

"  My  father  is  right,"  replied  the  Indian,  with  an  appearance  of  embarrass- 
ment, which,  whether  natural  or  feigned,  had  nothing  suspicious  in  it.  "  The 
great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  has  been  foolish,  like  an  old  woman.  The  young 
chiefs  of  his  tribe  will  laugh  at  him  for  this.  But  the  Ottawa  chief  will  come 
again,  and  the  other  chiefs  with  him,  for  as  my  father  sees,  they  all  wish  for 
peace ;  and  that  my  father  may  know  all  the  nations  wish  for  peace,  as  well 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      87 

as  tlieir  head  men,  the  warriors  of  the  Ottawa,  and  of  the  Shawanee,  and  of 
the  Delaware,  shall  play  at  ball  upon  the  common,  to  amuse  his  young  men, 
while  the  chiefs  sit  in  council  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Saganaw.  The  red  skins 
shall  come  naked,  and  ^\^thout  their  rifles  and  their  tomahawks  ;  and  even  the 
souaws  of  the  warriors  shall  come  upon  the  common,  to  show  the  Saganaw 
thev  may  be  without  fear.     Does  my  father  hear  ?" 

••"The  Ottawa  chief  says  well,"  returned  the  governor;  "but  will  the  pale 
friend  of  the  Ottawa  come  also  to  take  his  seat  in  the  council  hall  ?  The  great 
chief  has  said  the  pale  warrior  has  become  the  second  chief  among  the  Ottawas ; 
and  that  when  he  is  dead,  the  pale  warrior  will  lead  the  Ottawas,  and  take 
the  first  scat  in  the  council.  He,  too,  should  smoke  the  pipe  of  peace  witli  the 
Saganaw.  that  they  may  know  he  is  no  longer  their  enemy." 

The  Indian  hesitated,'uttering  merel^y  his  quick  ejaculatory  "  Ugh  !"  in  ex- 
pression of  his  surprise  at  so  unexpected  a  requisition.  "  The  pale  warrior, 
the  friend  of  the  Ottawa,  is  very  sick  "he  at  length  said ;  "  but  if  the  Great 
Spirit  should  give  him  back  his  voice  before  the  chiefs  come  again  to  the  coim- 
cil.  the  pale  face  will  come  too.  If  my  father  does  not  see  him  then,  he  will 
know  the  "friend  of  the  Ottawa  chief  is  very  sick." 

The  governor  deemed  it  prudent  not  to  press  the  question  too  closely,  lest 
in  so  doing  he  should  excite  suspicion,  and  defeat  his  own  object.'  "  When 
will  the  Ottawa  and  the  other  chiefs  come  again  ?"  he  asked  ;  "  and  when  will 
their  warriors  plaj'  ball  upon  the  common,  that  the  Saganaw  may  see  them 
and  be  amused  ?"  "  When  the  sun  has  travelled  so  many  times,"  replied 
Ponteac,  holding  up  three  fingers  of  liis  left  hand.  "  Then  will  the  Ottawa 
and  the  other  chiefs  bring  their  j'oung  warriors  and  their  3-oung  women." 

"It  is  too  soon,"  was  the  reply;  "the  Saganaw  must  have  time  to  collect 
thek  presents,  that  they  may  give  them  to  the  young  warriors  who  are  swift- 
est at  the  race,  and  most  active  at  the  ball.  The  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas, 
too,  must  let  the  settlers  of  the  pale  flag,  who  are  the  friends  of  the  red  skins, 
bring  in  food  for  the  Saganaw,  that  a  great  feast  may  be  given  to  the  chiefs, 
and  to  the  warriors,  and  that  the  Saganaw  may  make  peace  with  the  Ottawas 
and  the  other  nations  as  becomes  a  great  people.  In  twice  so  many  days," 
holding  up  three  of  his  fingers  in  imitation  of  the  Indian,  "  the  Saganaw  will 
be  ready  to  receive  the  chiefs  in  council,  that  they  may  smoke  the  pipe  of 
peace,  and  bury  the  hatchet  for  ever.  What  says  the  great  chief  of  the 
Ottawas  ?" 

"  It  is  good,"  was  the  reply  of  the  Indian,  his  eye  lighting  up  with  deep 
and  exulting  expression.  "  The  settlers  of  the  pale  flag  shall  bring  food  to 
the  Saganaw.  The  Ottawa  chief  will  send  them,  and  he  will  desire  his  yoimg 
men  not  to  prevent  them.  In  so  many  daj-s,  then,"  indicating  vnth  his  fingers, 
'•  the  great  chiefs  will  sit  again  in  council  with  the  Saganaw,  and  the  Ottawa 
cliief  will  not  be  a  fool  to  bring  the  pipe  he  does  not  want." 

With  this  assurance  the  conference  terminated.  Ponteac  raised  his  taU 
frame  from  the  mat  on  which  he  had  been  squatted,  nodded  condescendingly 
to  the  governor,  and  strode  haughtily  into  the  square  or  area  of  the  fort.  The 
other  chiefs  followed  his  example  ;  and  to  Major  Blackwater  was  again  assign- 
ed the  duty  of  accompanying  them  without  the  works.  The  glance  of  the 
savages,  and  that  of  Ponteac  in  particular,  was  less  wary  than  at  their  en- 
trance. Each  seemed  to  embrace  every  object  on  which  the  eyes  could  rest, 
as  if  to  fix  its  position  indelibly  m  his  memory.  The  young  chief,  who  had 
been  so  sudden!}'  and  opportunely  checked  while  in  the  very  act  of  pealing 
forth  his  terrible  war-whoop,  again  looked  up  at  the  windows  of  the  block- 
house, in  quest  of  those  whom  his  savage  instinct  had  already  devoted  in  in- 
tention to  his  tomahawk,  but  they  were  no  longer  there.  Such  was  the 
silence  that  reigned  every  where,  the  fort  appeared  to  be  tenanted  only  by  the 
few  men  of  the  guard,  who  lingered  near  their  stations,  attentively  watching 
the  Indians,  as  they  passed  towards  the  gate.  A  very  few  minutes  sufficed  to 
bring  the  latter  once  more  in  the  midst  of  their  warriors,  whom  for  a  few 


88       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

momentSj  they  harangued  earnestly,  Avhou  the  whole  body  again   moved 
in  the  direction  of  their  encampment. 


CHArTER  XIV. 

The  week  that  intervened  between  the  visit  of  the  chiefs  and  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  their  second  meeting  in  council,  was  passed  by  the  garrison  in 
perfect  freedom  from  alarm,  although,  as  usual,  in  diligent  watchfulness  and 
preparations  for  ca.'^ualtics.  In  conformity  with  his  promise,  tlie  Indian  had 
despatched  many  of  the  Oariadian  settlers,  with  such  provisions  as  the  coun- 
try then  atibrded,  to  the  governor,  and  these,  happy  to  obtain  the  gold  of  the 
troops  in  return  for  what  the}"  cotdd  conveniently  spare.  v\ere  not  slow  in 
avaihng  themselves  of  the  permission.  Dried  bear's  meat,  venison,  and  Indian 
corn,  composed  the  substance  of  these  supplies,  which  were  in  sufficient  abun- 
dance to  produce  a  six  weeks'  increase  to  the  stock  of  the  garrison.  Hitherto 
they  had  been  subsisting,  in  a  great  degree,  upon  salt  provisions ;  the  food 
fm'tively  supplied  by  the  Canadians  being  necessarily,  from  their  dread  of  de- 
tection, on  so  limited  a  scale,  that  a  very  small  portion  of  the  troops  had  been 
enabled  to  profit  by  it.  This,  therefore,  was  an  important  and  luiexpected 
benefit,  derived  from  the  falling  in  of  the  garrison  with  the  professed  views  of 
the  savages ;  and  one  which,  perhaps,  few  officers  would,  like  Colonel  de  Hal- 
dimar,  have  possessed  the  forethought  to  have  secured.  But  although  it  serv- 
ed to  reheve  the  animal  wants  of  the  man,  there  was  little  to  remove  his 
moral  inquietude.  Discouraged  by  the  sangniinary  character  of  the  warfare 
in  which  they  seemed  doomed  to  be  for  ever  engaged,  and  harassed  by  con- 
stant watchings, — seldom  taking  off  their  clothes  for  weeks  together, — the 
men  had  gradually  been  losing  their  energy  of  spirit,  in  the  contemplation  of 
the  almost  irremediable  evils  by  which  they  were  beset ;  and  looked  forward 
with  sad  and  disheartening  conviction  to  a  fate,  that  aU  things  tended  to  prove 
to  them  was  unavoidable,  however  the  period  of  its  consummation  might  be 
protracted.  Among  the  officers,  this  dejection,  although  proceeding  from  a 
different  cause,  was  no  less  prevalent ;  and  notwithstanding  they  sought  to 
disguise  it  before  their  men,  when  left  to  themselves  thej^  gave  tmlimited  rein 
to  a  despondency  hourly  acquiring  strength,  as  the  day  fixed  on  for  the  second 
council  with  the  Indians  drew  near. 

At  length  came  that  terrible  and  eventful  day,  and,  as  if  in  mockery  of 
those  who  saw  no  beauty  in  its  golden  beams,  arrayed  in  all  the  gorgeous  soft- 
ness of  its  autumnal  glory.  Sad  and  heavy  were  the  hearts  of  many  within 
that  far  distant  and  isolated  fort,  as  they  rose,  at  the  first  glimmering  of  light 
above  the  horizon,  to  prepare  for  the  several  duties  assigned  them.  All  felt 
the  influence  of  a  feeling  that  laid  j^rostrate  the  moral  energies  even  of  the 
boldest :  but  there  was  one  j-oung  officer  in  particular,  who  exhibited  a  dejec- 
tion, degenerating  almost  into  stupefaction ;  and  more  than  once,  when  he 
received  an  order  from  his  superior,  hesitated  as  one  who  either  heard  not,  or, 
in  attempting  to  perform  it,  mistook  the  purport  of  his  instructions,  and  exe- 
cuted some  entirely  different  duty.  The  countenance  of  this  officei-,  whose 
attenuated  person  otherwise  bore  traces  of  languor  and  debility,  but  too 
plainly  marked  the  abstractedness  and  terror  of  his  mind,  while  the  set  stiff 
features  and  contracted  muscles  of  the  face  contributed  to  give  an  expression 
of  vacuity,  that  one  who  knew  him  not  might  have  interpreted  unfavorably. 
Several  times,  during  the  inspection  of  his  company  at  the  early  parade,  he 
was  seen  to  raise  his  head,  and  throw  forward  his  eat,  as  if  expecting  to  catch 
the  echo  of  some  horrible  and  appalling  cry,  until  the  men  themselves  remark- 
ed, and  commented,  by  interchange  of  looks,  on  the  singular  conduct  of  their 
officer,  whose  thoughts  had  evidently  no  connection  with  the  duty  he  was 
performing,  or  the  spot  on  which  he  stood. 


vvacousta;    or,    the    prophecy.  89 

When  this  customary  inspectiou  had  Ixjen  accomplished, — liow  imperfectly, 
has  been  seen, — and  the  men  dismissed  from  their  ranks,  the  same  young 
officer  was  observetl,  by  one  who  followed  his  cvQr}'-  movement  with  interest, 
to  ascend  that  part  of  the  rampart  which  commanded  an  unbroken  view  of 
the  country  westward,  from  the  point  where  tlie  encampment  of  the  Indians 
was  supposed  to  lie,  down  to  the  bridf2;c  on  which  the  terrible  tragedy  of  Hal- 
loway's  death  had  been  so  recently  enacted.  Unconscious  of  the  presence  of 
two  sentinels,  who  moved  to  and  fro  near  their  respective  posts,  on  either  side 
of  him,  the  young  officer  folded  his  arms,  and  gazed  in  that  direction  for  some 
minutes,  with  his  whole  soul  i  ivetcd  on  the  scene.  Then,  as  if  overcome  by 
recollections  called  up  liy  l!;;:!  on  ulsich  he  gazed,  he  covered  his  ej'es  hur- 
riedly with  his  hands,  ami  ln'lr.i\  ed.  i )y  the  convulsed  movement  of  his  slender 
form,  he  was  weeping  bitterl}-.  Tiie  paroxysm  past,  he  uncovered  his  face, 
sank  with  one  knee  upon  the  ground,  and  upraising  his  clasped  hands,  as  if  in 
appeal  to  liis  God,  seemed  to  pray  deeply  and  fervently.  Tn  this  attitude  he 
cx)ntinued  for  some  moments,  when  he  became  sensible  of  the  approach  of  an 
intruder.  He  raised  himself  from  his  knee,  turned,  and  beheld  one  whose 
countenance  was  stamped  with  a  dejection  scarcely  inferior  to  his  own.  It 
was  Captain  Blessington. 

"  Charles,  my  dear  Charles  !"  exclaimed  the  latter  hurriedly,  as  he  laid  his 
hand  upon  the  shoulder  of  the  emaciated  De  Haldimar,  "consider  you  are  not 
alone.  For  God's  sake,  check  this  weakness  !  There  are  men  observing  you 
on  every  side,  and  yom-  strange  manner  has  already  been  the  subject  of  re- 
mark in  the  compan3^" 

"  When  the  heart  is  sick,  like  mine,"  replied  the  youth,  in  a  tone  of  fearful 
despondency,  ''it  is  alike  recldess  of  forms  and  careless  of  appearances.  I 
trust,  however,"  and  here  spoke  the  soldier,  ''  there  are  few  within  this  fort 
who  will  believe  me  less  courageous,  because  I  have  been  seen  to  bend  my 
knee  in  supplication  to  my  God.  I  (hd  not  think  that  you,  Blessington, 
would  have  been  the  first  to  condemn  the  act." 

■'  I  condemn  it,  Charles  !  you  mistake  me,  indeed  you  do,"  feelingly  retm-ned 
his  captain,  secretly  pained  at  the  mild  reproach  containetl  in  the  concluding 
sentence ;  '•  but  there  are  two  things  to  be  considered.  In  the  first  instance, 
the  men  who  are  yet  in  ignorance  of  the  great  evils  with  which  we  are  threat- 
ened, may  mistake  the  cause  of  your  agitation  ;  you  were  in  tears  just  now, 
Charles,  and  the  sentinels  must  have  remarked  it  as  well  as  myself.  I  would 
not  have  them  to  believe  that  one  of  their  officers  was  affected  by  the  antici- 
pation of  coming  disaster,  in  a  way  their  own  hearts  are  incapable  of  estimat- 
ing. You  understand  me,  Charles  ?  I  would  not  have  them  too  much  dis- 
couraged by  an  example  that  may  become  infectious." 

"■  I  do  understand  j-ou,  Blessington,"  and  a  forced  and  sickly  smile  played 
for  a  moment  over  the  wan  yet  handsome  features  of  the  young  officer ;  "you 
would  not  have  me  appear  a  weeping  coward  in  their  eyes." 

"  Nay.  dear  Charles,  I  did  not  say  it." 

"  But  you  meant  it,  Blessington  ;  yet,  think  not," — and  he  warmly  pressed 
the  hand  of  his  captain. — "think  not,  I  repeat,  I  take  your  hint  m  any  other 
than  the  friendly  light  in  wliich  it  was  intended.  That  I  have  been  no 
coward,  however,  I  hope  I  have  given  proof  more  than  once  before  tbe  men, 
most  of  whom  have  known  me  from  my  cradle ;  yet,  whatever  they  may 
think,  is  to  me,  at  this  moment,  a  matter  of  utter  indifierence.  Blessington," 
and  again  the  tears  rolled  from  his  fixed  eyes  over  his  cheek,  while  he  pointed 
with  his  finger  to  the  western  horizon,  "  I  have  neither  thought  nor  feeling 
for  myself;  my  whole  heart  hes  buried  there.  Oh,  God  of  Heaven!"  he 
pvu'sued,  after  a  pause,  and  again  raising  his  eyes  in  supplication,  "  avert  the 
dr^dful  destiny  that  awaits  my  beloved  sister." 

"  Charles,  Charles,  if  only  for  that  sister's  sake,  then,  calm  an  agitation 
which,  if  thus  indulged  in,  will  assuredly  destroy  you.  AH  will  yet  be  well. 
The  delay  obtained  by  your  father  has  been  sufficient  for  the  pm-pose  proposed. 


90  WACO  IT  ST  a;    ou,   the    prophecy. 

Let  US  hope  for  the  best :  if  we  are  deceived  in  our  expectation,  it  will  then 
be  time  enough  to  indulge  in  a  grief,  wliich  could  scarce!}-  be  exceeded  were 
the  fearful  misgivings  of  )^our  mind  to  be  realized  before  your  e)'es." 

'•  Blessington,"  returned  the  young  officer, — and  his  features  exhibited  the 
livliest  image  of  despair, — "  all  hope  has  long  since  been  extinct  in  mj^  Ijreast. 
See  you  yon  theatre  of  death  ?"  he  mournfully  pursued,  pointing  to  the  fatal 
bridge,  which  was  thrown  into  full  relief  against  the  placid  bosom  of  the  De- 
troit :  "  recollect  you  the  scene  that  was  acted  on  it  ?  As  for  me,  it  is  ever 
present  to  my  mind, — it  haunts  me  in  my  thoughts  by  day,  and  in  my  dreama 
by  night.  I  shall  never  forget  it  while  memory  is  left  to  curse  me  with 
the  power  of  retrospection.  On  the  very  spot  on  which  I  now  stand  was  I 
borne  in  a  chair,  to  witness  the  dreadful  punishment ;  you  see  the  stone  at 
my  feet,  I  marked  it  bj^  that.  I  saw  you  conduct  Halloway  to  the  centre  of 
the  bridge  ;  I  beheld  him  kneel  to  receive  his  death  ;  I  saw,  too,  the  terrible 
race  for  life  that  interrupted  the  proceedings ;  I  marked  the  sudden  up-spring 
of  Halloway  to  his  feet  upon  the  cofhn,  and  the  exulting  waving  of  his  hand, 
as  he  seemed  to  recognise  the  rivals  for  mastery  in  the  race.  Then  was  heard 
the  fatal  volley,  and  I  saw  the  death-struggle  of  him  who  had  saved  my  brother's 
life.  I  could  have  died,  too,  at  that  moment ;  and  would  to  Providence  I  had  ! 
but  it  was  otherwise  decreed.  My  aching  interest  was,  for  a  moment,  diverted 
by  the  fearful  chase  now  renewed  upon  the  height ;  and,  in  common  with 
those  around  me,  I  watched  the  efforts  of  the  pursuer  and  the  pursued  with 
painful  earnestness  and  doubt  as  to  the  final  result.  Ah,  Blessington,  why 
was  this  not  all  ?  The  tei'i-ible  shriek  uttered  at  the  moment  when  the  fugi- 
tive fell,  apparently  dead,  at  the  feet  of  the  firing  party,  reached  us  even  here. 
I  felt  as  if  my  heart  must  have  bm-st,  for  I  knew  it  to  be  the  sliriek  of  poor 
Ellen  Halloway, — the  suffering  wife, — the  broken-hearted  woman  who  had 
so  recently  in  all  the  wild  abandonment  of  her  grief,  wetted  mj^  pillo-\A',  and 
even  my  check,  with  her  burning  tears,  while  supplicating  an  intercession  with 
my  father  for  mercy,  which  I  kncAv  it  would  be  utterly  fruitless  to  promise. 
The  discovery  of  her  exchange  of  clothes  with  one  of  the  drum  boys  of  the 
grenadiers  was  made  soon  after  you  left  the  fort.  I  saw  her  leap  upon  the 
coffin,  and  standing  over  the  body  of  her  unhappy  liiisband,  raise  her  hands 
to  heaven  in  adjuration,  and  my  heart  died  within  me.  I  recollected  the 
words  she  had  spoken  on  a  previous  occasion,  during  the  first  examination. of 
Halloway,  and  I  felt  it  to  be  the  prophetic  denunciation,  then  threatened,  that 
she  was  now  uttering  on  all  the  race  of  De  Haldimar.  I  saw  no  more,  Bless- 
ington. Sick,  dizzy,  and  with  every  faculty  of  my  mind  annihilated,  I  turned 
away  from  the  horrid  scene,  and  was  again  borne  to  my  room." 

Captain  Blessington  was  deeply  affected  ;  for  there  was  a  solenmity  in  the 
voice  of  the  young  officer  that  carried  conviction  to  the  hear! . 

The  attention  of  both  was.diverted  by  the  report  of  a  musket  from  the  rear 
of  the  fort.  Presently  afterwards,  the  word  was  passed  along  the  chain  of 
sentinels  upon  the  ramparts,  that  the  Indians  were  is.suing  in  force  from  the 
forest  upon  the  common  near  the  bomb-proof.  Then  was  heard,  as  the  senti- 
nel at  the  gate  delivered  the  pass-word,  the  heavy  roll  of  the  drum  summon- 
ing to  arms. 

"Ha  !  here  already  !"  said  Captain  Blessington,  as,  glancing  towards  the 
forest,  he  beheld  the"  skirt  of  the  wood  now  alive  with  dusky  human  forms : 
"  Ponteac's  visit  is  earlier  than  we  had  been  taught  to  expect ;  but  we  are  as 
well  prepared  to  receive  him  now  as  later  ;  and,  in  fact,  the  sooner  the  inter- 
view is  terminated,  the  sooner  we  shall  know  what  we  have  to  depend  upon. 
Come.  Charles,  we  must  join  the  company,  and  let  me  entreat  you  to-  evince 
less  despondency  before  the  men.  It  is  hard,  I  know,  to  sustain  an  artificial 
character  under  such  disheartening  circumstances  ;  still,  for  example's  sake,  it 
must  be  done." 

"  What  I  can  I  will  do,  Blessington,"  rejoined  the  youth,  as  they  both 
moved  from  the  ramparts  ;'•  b\it  the  task  is,  in  truth,  one  to  which  I  find 


w  A  c  o  t;  s  T  A  ;     o  r  ,    t  h  e    p  r  o  p  a  e  c  y  .  91 

myself  wliolly  unequal.  How  do  1  know  that,  even  at  this  moment,  my  de- 
fenceless, terrified,  and  innocent  sister  may  not  be  invoking  the  name  and  arm 
of  her  brother  to  save  her  from  destruction. 

"Trust  in  Providence,  Charles.  Even  although  our  worst  apprehensions 
be  realised,  as  I  fervently  trust  they  will  not,  your  sister  may  be  spared.  The 
Canadian  could  not  have  been  unfaithful,  or  we  should  liave  learnt  something 
of  his  treachery  from  the  Indiaus.  Another  week  will  confirm  us  in  the 
truth  or  fallacy  of  our  impressions.  Until  then  let  us  arm  our  hearts  with 
hope.  Trust  me,  we  shall  yet  see  the  laughing  eyes  of  Clara  fill  with  tears 
of  affection,  as  I  recount  to  her  all  her  too  sensitive  and  too  desponding  bro- 
ther has  sutfered  for  her  sake." 

De  Haldimar  made  no  reply.  He  deeply  felt  the  kind  intention  of  his  cap- 
tain, but  was  for  from  cherishing  the  hope  that  had  been  recommended. 
He  sigiied  heavily,  pressed  the  arm  on  which  he  leaned,  in  gratitude  for  the 
motive,  and  moved  silently  with  liis  friend  to  join  their  company  below  the 
rampart. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Meanwhile  the  wliite  flag  had  again  been  raised  by  the  Indians  upon  the 
bomb-proof;  and  this  having  been  readily  met  by  a  corresponding  signal  from 
the  fort,  a  numerous  band  of  savages  now  issued  from  the  cover  with  which 
their  dark  forms  had  hitherto  been  identified,  and  spread  themselves  far  and 
near  upon  the  common.  On  this  occasion  they  were  without  arms,  oflensive 
or  defensive,  of  any  kind,  if  we  may  except  the  knife  which  was  always  car- 
ried at  the  girdle,  and  which  constituted  a  part  rather  of  their  necessary  dress 
than  of  their  warlike  equipment.  These  warriors  might  have  been  about  five 
hundred  in  number,  and  were  composed  chiefly  of  picked  men  from  the  na- 
tions of  the  Ottawas,  the  Delawares,  and  the  Shawanees  ;  each  race  being  dis- 
tinctly recognisable  from  the  others  by  certain  peculiarities  of  form  and  fea- 
ture which  individualised,  if  we  may  so  term  it,  the  several  tribes.  Their 
only  covering  was  the  legging  before  described,  composed  in  some  instances 
of  cloth,  but  principally  of  smoked  deerskin,  and  the  flap  that  passed  through 
the  girdle  around  the  loins,  by  which  the  straps  attached  to  the  leggings  were 
secured.  Their  bodies,  necks,  and  arms  were,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
slight  ornaments,  entirely  naked ;  and  even  the  blanket,  that  served  them  as 
a  couch  by  night  and  a  covering  by  day,  had,  with  one  single  exception,  been 
dispensed  with,  apparently  with  a  view  to  avoid  anything  like  encumbrance 
in  their  approaching  sport.  Each  individual  was  provided  with  a  stout  sap- 
ling of  about  three  feet  in  length,  curved,  and  flattened  at  the  root  extremity, 
like  that  used  at  the  Irish  hurdle  ;  which  game,  in  fact,  the  manner  of  baU- 
playing  among  the  Indians  in  every  way  resembled. 

Interspersed  among  these  warriors  were  a  nearly  equal  number  of  squaws. 
These  were  to  be  seen  lounging  carelessly  about  in  small  groups,  and  were  of 
all  ages  ;  from  the  hoary-headed,  shrivelled-up  hag,  whose  eyes  still  sparkled 
with  a  fire  that  her  lank  and  attenuated  frame  denied,  to  the  young  girl  of 
twelve,  whose  dark  and  glowing  cheek,  rounded  bust,  and  penetrating  glance, 
bore  striking  evidence  of  the  precociousness  of  Indian  beauty.  Theselatter 
looked  with  evident  interest  on  the  sports  of  the  young  warriors,  who,  throw- 
ing down  their  hurdles,  either  vied  with  each  other  in  the  short  but  incredibly 
swift  foot-race,  or  iudulgc-d  themselves  in  wrestling  and  leaping ;  while  their 
companions,  abandoned  to  the  full  security  they  felt  to  be  attached  to  the 
white  flag  vraving  on  the  fort,  lay  at  their  lazy  length  upon  the  sward,  osten- 
sibly follo\ving  the  movements  of  the  several  competitors  in  these  sports,  but 
in  reality  ^vith  heart  and  eye  directed  solely  to  the  fortification  that  lay  be- 


92       wacousta;  or,  the  puopkecy. 

yond.  Each  of  these  females,  in  addition  to  the  machccoti,  or  petticoat,  which 
in  one  solid  square  of  broad-cloth  was  tightly  wrapped  around  the  loins,  also 
carried  a  blanket  loosely  thrown  around  the  person,  but  closely  confined  over 
the  shoulders  in  front,  and  reaching  below  the  knee.  There  was  an  an*  of  con- 
straint in  their  movements,  which  accorded  ill  with  the  occasion  of  festivity 
for  which  they  were  assembled  ;  and  it  was  remarkable,  whether  it  arose  from 
deference  to  those  to  whom  they  were  slaves,  as  well  as  wives  and  daughters, 
or  from  whatever  other  cause  it  might  be,  none  of  them  ventured  to  recline 
themselves  upon  the  sward  in  imitation  of  the  warriors. 

When  it  had  been  made  known  to  the  governor  that  the  Indians  had  begun 
to  develope  themselves  in  force  upon  the  common  unarmed,  yet  redolent  with 
the  spirit  that  was  to  direct  their  meditated  sports,  the  soldiers  were  dismissed 
from  their  respective  companies  to  the  ramparts ;  where  they  were  now  to  be 
seen,  not  drawn  up  in  formidable  and  hostile  array,  but  collected  together  in 
careless  groups,  and  simply  in  their  side-arms.  This  reciprocation  of  con- 
fidence on  the  part  of  the  garrison  was  acknowledged  by  the  Indians  by 
marks  of  approbation,  expressed  as  much  by  the  sudden  and  classic  disposi- 
tion of  their  fine  forms  into  attitudes  strikingly  illustrative  of  their  admiration 
and  pleasure,  as  by  the  interjectional  sounds  that  passed  from  one  to  the  other 
of  the  throng.  From  the  increased  alacrity  with  which  they  now  lent  them- 
selves to  the  preparatory  and  inferior  amusements  of  the  day,  it  was  evident 
their  satisfaction  was  complete. 

Hitherto  the  principal  cliiefs  had,  as  on  the  previous  occasion,  occupied  the 
bomb-proof;  and  now,  as  then,  they  appeared  to  be  deliberating  among  them- 
selves, but  evidently  in  a  more  energetic  and  serious  manner.  At  length  they 
separated,  when  Ponteac,  accompanied  b}--  the  chiefs  who  had  attended  him 
on  the  former  day,  once  more  led  in  the  direction  of  the  fort.  The  moment 
of  his  advance  was  the  signal  for  the  commencement  of  the  principal  game. 
In  an  instant  those  of  the  warriors  who  lay  reclining  on  the  sward  sprang 
to  their  feet,  while  the  wrestlers  and  racers  resumed  their  hurdles,  and  prepar- 
ed themselves  for  the  trial  of  mingled  skill  and  swiftness.  At  first  they 
formed  a  dense  group  in  the  centre  of  the  common  ;  and  then,  diverging  in 
two  equal  files  both  to  the  right  and  to  the  left  of  the  immediate  centre, 
where  the  large  ball  was  placed,  formed  an  open  chain,  extending  from  the 
skirt  of  the  forest  to  the  commencement  of  the  village.  On  the  one  side  were 
ranged  the  Delawares  and  Shawanees.  and  on  the  other  the  more  numerous 
nations  of  the  Ottawas.  Tlie  women  of  these  several  tribes,  apparently  much 
interested  in  the  issue  of  an  amusement  in  which  the  manliness  and  activity 
of  then-  respective  friends  were  staked,  had  gradually  and  imperceptibly  gain- 
ed the  front  of  the  fort,  where  they  vrere  now  huddled  in  groups,  at  about 
twenty  paces  from  the  drawbridge,  and  bending  eagerly  forward  to  command 
the  movements  of  the  ball-players. 

In  his  circuit  round  the  walls,  Ponteac  was  seen  to  remark  the  confiding 
appearance  of  the  unarmed  soldiery  with  a  satisfaction  that  was  not  sought 
to  be  disguised ;  and  from  the  manner  in  which  he  threw  his  glance  along 
each  face  of  the  rampart,  it  was  evident  his  object  was  to  embrace  the  numeri- 
cal strength  collected  there.  It  was  moreover  observed,  when  he  passed  the 
groups  of  squaws  on  his  way  to  the  gate,  he  addressed  some  words  in  a 
strange  tongue  to  the  elder  matrons  of  each. 

Once  more  the  dark  warriors  were  received  at  the  gate,  by  Major  Blackwater ; 
and,  as  with  firm  but  elastic  tread,  they  moved  across  the  square,  each  threw 
his  eyes  rapidly  and  anxiously  around,  and  with  less  of  concealment  in  his 
manner  than  had  been  manifested  on  the  former  occasion.  On  every  hand 
the  same  air  of  nakedness  and  desertion  met  their  gaze.  Not  even  a  soldier 
of  the  guard  was  to  be  seen ;  and  when  they  cast  their  eyes  upwards  to  the 
windows  of  the  block-houses,  they  were  found  to  be  tenautless  as  the  area 
through  which  they  passed.'  A  gleam  of  fierce  satisfaction  pei-vaded  the 
swarthy  coiuitenances  of  the  Indians:  and  the  features  of  Ponteac,  in  particular, 


WxVcousta;     ok,    the    prophkcy.  93 

expressed  the  deepest  exultation,  lustcad  of  leading  liis  party,  he  now  brought 
up  the  rear ;  and  Avhen  arrived  in  the  centre  of  the  fort,  he,  without  any  visi- 
ble cause  for  the  accident,  stumbled,  and  fell  to  the  earth.  The  other  chiefs 
for  the  mouient  lost  sight  of  thuir  ordinav}-  gravity,  and  marked  their  sense 
of  the  circumstance  by  a  prolonged  sound,  jiartakiug  of  the  mingled  charac- 
ter of  a  laugh  and  a  )"ell.  Startled  at  tlu'  cry,  Major  Blackwater,  who  was  in 
front,  turned  to  ascertain  the  cause.  At  that  nioiiKut  pDiiteac  sprang  lightly 
again  to  his  feet,  responding  to  the  yell  of  his  coiitiMkralis  by  .umther  even 
more  startling,  fierce,  and  prolonged  than  their  own.  I  Ic  iIru  slall-.ed  proud- 
ly to  tlie  head  of  the  part}',  and  even  preceded  Major  Blackwater  into  the 
coimcil  room. 

In  this  rude  theatre  of  conference  some  changes  had  been  made  since  their 
recent  visit,  which  escaped  not  the  observation  of  the  quick-sighted  chiefs. 
Their"niats  lay  in  the  position  they  had  previously  occupied,  and  the  chairs 
of  the  oificerswere  ]'''/'d  m.s  ln'foT-e,  but  the  room  itself  had  been  considerably 
enlarged.  The  s'  .  1  '  ^i;  ii'mi  i crniinating  the  interior  extremity  of  the 
mess-room,  and  dis:  ,m;,c  i  n' -h  tluit  of  one  of  the  officers,  had  been  removed  ; 
and  midway  throuuii  ii\'^,  v:. loading  entirely  across,  was  drawn  a  curtain  of 
scarlet  cloth.  uLvaiiist  winch  the  imposing  figure  of  the  governor,  elevated  as 
his  seat  was  above  those  of  tlic  other  otiicers,  was  thrown  into  strong  rehef. 
There  was  another  change,  that  escaped  not  the  observation  of  the  Indians, 
and  that  was,  not  more  than  one  half  of  the  officers  who  had  been  present  at 
the  first  conference  were  now  in  the  room.  Of  these  latter,  one  had,  more- 
over, been  sent  away  by  the  governor  the  moment  the  chiefs  were  ushered  in. 

"  Ugh  1"  ejaculated  the  proud  leader,  as  he  took  his  seat  unceremoniously, 
and  yet  not  without  reluctance,  upon  the  mat.  "  The  councLl-room  of  my 
father,  is  bigger  than  when  the  Ottawa  was  here  before,  yet  the  number  of  his 
chiefs  is  not  so  many." 

'■  The  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  knows  that  the  Saganaw  has  promised  the 
red  skins  a  ft'ast,"  returned  the  governor.  "  Were  he  to  leave  it  to  his  young 
warriors  to  provide  it,  he  would  not  be  able  to  receive  the  Ottawa  hke  a  great 
chief,  and  to  make  peace  with  him  as  he  could  wish." 

"  My  ftither  has  a  great  deal  of  cloth,  red,  like  the  blood  of  a  pale  face," 
pursued  the  Indian,  rather  in  demand  than  in  observation,  as  he  pointed  with 
his  finger  to  the  opposite  end  of  the  room.  "  When  the  Ottawa  was  here  last, 
he  did  not  see  it." 

'■  The  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  knows  that  the  great  father  of  the  Saga- 
naw has  a  big  heart  to  make  presents  to  the  red  skins.  The  cloth  the 
Ottawa  sees  there  is  suflicient  to  make  leggings  for  the  chiefs  of  all  the  na- 
tions." 

Apparently  satisfied  with  this  reply,  the  fierce  Indian  uttered  one  of  his 
strong  guttural  and  assentient  "  ughs,"  and  then  commenced  filhng  the  pipe 
of  peace,  correct  on  the  present  occasion  in  all  its  ornaments,  which  was 
handed  to  him  by  tlie  Delaware  chief.  It  was  remarked  by  the  officers  this 
operation  took  up  an  unusually  long  portion  of  Ids  time,  and  that  he  frequently 
turned  his  ear,  like  a  horse  stirred  by  the  huntsman's  horn,  with  quick  and 
irrepressible  eagerness  towards  the  door. 

"  The  pale  warrior,  the  friend  of  the  Ottawa  chief,  is  not  here,"  said  the 
governor,  as  he  glanced  his  eye  along  the  semicircle  of  Indians.  "  How  is 
this  J  Is  liis  voice  stUl  sick,  that  he  cannot  come  ;  or  iias  the  great  chief  of 
the  Ottawas  forgotten  to  tell  him?" 

'•  The  voice  of  the  pale  warrior  is  still  sick,  and  he  cannot  speak,"  replied 
the  Indian.  '•  The  Ottawa  chief  is  very  sorry  ;  for  the  tongue  of  his  friend 
the  pale  face  is  full  of  wisdom." 

Scarcely  had  the  last  words  escaped  his  lips,  when  a  wild  shriU  cry  from 
without  the  fort  rang  on  the  ears  of  the  assembled  council,  and  caused  a  mo- 
mentary commotion  among  the  officers.  It  arose  from  a  single  voice,  and  that 
voice  could  not  ])e  mislakeii  by  any  ^vl)o  had  heard  it  once  before.     A  second 


94  W  A  C  O  D  S  T  A  ;     .0  E,  ,     THE      PROPHECY. 

or  two,  during  which  the  officers  and  chiefs  kept  their  eyes  intently  fixed  on 
each  other,  passed  anxiously  away,  and  then  nearer  to  the  gate,  apparently 
on  the  very  drawbridge  itself,  was  pealed  forth  the  wild  and  deafening  yell  of 
a  legion  of  devilish  voices.  At  that  sound,  the  Ottawa  and  tlie  other  chiefs 
sprang  to  their  feet,  and  their  own  fierce  cry  responded  to  that  yet  vibrating 
on  the  ears  of  all.  Already  were  their  gleaming  tomahawks  brandished 
wildly  over  their  heads,  and  Ponteac  had  even  bounded  a  pace  forward  to 
reach  the  governor  with  the  deadly  weapon,  when  at  the  sudden  stamping  of 
the  foot  of  the  latter  upon  the  floor,  the  scarlet  cloth  in  the  rear  was  thrown 
aside,  and  twenty  soldiers,  their  eyes  glancing  along  the  barrels  of  their 
levelled  muskets,  met  the  startled  gaze  of  the  astonished  Indians. 

An  instant  was  enough  to  satisfy  the  keen  chief  of  the  true  state  of  the  case. 
The  calm  composed  mien  of  the  officers,  not  one  of  whom  had  even  attempted 
to  quit  his  seat,  amid  the  din  by  which  his  ears  were  so  alarmingly  assailed, — 
the  triumphant,  yet  dignified,  and  even  severe  expression  of  the  govenor's 
countenance  ;  and  above  all,  the  unexpected  presence  of  the  prepared  soldiery, — 
all  these  at  once  assured  him  of  the  discover}-  of  his  treacherj^,  and  the  danger 
that  awaited  him.  The  necessity  for  an  immediate  attempt  to  join  his  war- 
riors without,  was  now  obvious  to  tlie  Ottawa  ;  and  scarcely  had  he  conceived 
the  idea  before  it  was  sought  to  be  executed.  In  a  single  spring  he  gained 
the  door  of  the  mess-room,  and,  followed  eagerly  and  tumultuously  by  the 
other  chiefs,  to  whose  departure  no  opposition  was  offered,  in  the  next  moment 
stood  on  the  steps  of  the  piazza  that  ran  along  the  front  of  the  building 
whence  he  had  issued. 

The  surprise  of  the  Indians  on  reaching  this  point  was  now  too  powerful  to 
be  dissembled ;  and,  incapable  either  of  advancing  or  receding,  they  remained 
gazing  on  the  scene  before  them  with  an  air  of  mingled  stupefaction,  rage,  and 
alarm.  Scarcely  ten  minutes  had  elapsed  since  they .  had  proudly  strode 
through  the  naked  area  of  the  fort,  and  yet,  even  in  that  short  space  of  time, 
its  appearance  had  been  entirely  changed.  Not  a  part  was  there  now  of  the 
surrounding  buildings  that  was  not  redolent  with  human  life,  and  hostile 
preparation.  Through  every  window  of  the  officers'  low  rooms,  was  to  be 
seen  the  dark  and  frowning  muzzle  of  a  field-piece,  bearing  upon  the  gateway ; 
and  behind  these  were  artillerymen,  holding  then-  lighted  matches,  supported 
again  by  files  of  bayonets,  that  glittered  in  their  rear.  In  the  block-houses 
the  same  formidable  array  of  field-pieces  and  muskets  was  visible  ;  while  from 
the  four  angles  of  the  square,  as  many  heavy  guns,  that  had  been  artfully 
masked  at  the  entrance  of  the  chiefs,  seemed  ready  to  sweep  away  every  thing 
that  should  come  before  them.  The  guard-room  near  the  gate  presented  the 
same  hostile  front.  The  doors  of  this,  as  well  as  of  the  other  buildings,  had 
been  firmly  secured  within ;  but  from  every  window  affording  cover  to  the 
troops,  gleamed  a  lific  of  baj^onets  rising  above  the  threatening  field-pieces, 
pointed,  at  a  distance  of  little  more  than  twelve  feet,  directly  upon  the  gate- 
way. In  addition  to  his  musket,  each  man  of  the  guard  moreover  held  a  hand 
grenade,  provided  with  a  short  fuze  that  could  be  ignited  in  a  moment  from 
the  matches  of  the  gunners,  and  with  immediate  effect.  The  soldiers  in  the 
block-houses  were  similarly  provided. 

Almost  magical  as  was  the  change  thus  suddenly  effected  in  the  appearance 
of  the  garrison,  it  was  not  the  most  interesting  feature  in  the  exciting  scene. 
Choking  up  the  gateway,  in  which  they  were  completely  wedged,  and  crowd- 
ing the  drawbridge,  a  dense  mass  of  dusky  Indians  were  to  be  seen  casting 
their  fierce  glances  around  ;  yet  paralysed  in  their  movements  by  the  unlooked- 
for  display  of  a  resisting  force,  threatening  instant  annihilation  to  tjiose  wlio 
should  attempt  either  to  advance  or  to  recede.  Never,  perhaps,  was  astonish- 
ment and  disappointment  more  forcibly  depicted  on  the  human  countenance, 
than  as  they  were  now  exhibited  by  these  men,  who  had  already,  in  imagina- 
tion, secured  to  themselves  an  easy  conquest.  They  were  the  wai'riors  wlio 
had  so  I'ecently  been  engaged  in  the  manly  yet  innocent  exercise  of  the  ball ; 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.       95 

but,  ini^tciifl  of  the  harmless  hunlle.  each  nov.- carried  a  short  gun  in  one  hand 
and  a  gleaming-  tomahawk  in  the  other.  After  the  first  general  yelling  heard 
in  tlie  council-room  not  a  sound  was  uttered.  Their  burst  of  rage  and 
triumph  had  evidently  been  checked  by  the  unexpected  manner  of  their 
reception,  and  they  now  stood  on  the  spot  on  which  the  further  advance  of 
each  ha<l  been  arrested,  so  silent  and  motionless,  that,  but  for  the  rolling  of 
their  dark  eyes,  as  they  keenly  measured  the  insurmountable  barriers  that 
were  opposed  to  their  progress,  they  might  almost  have  been  taken  for  a  wild 
group  of  statuary. 

Conspicuous  at  the  head  of  these  was  he  who  wore  the  blanket ;  a  tall  war- 
rior, on  whom  rested  the  startled  eye  of  every  otlicer  and  soldier  who  was  so 
situated  as  to  behold  him.  His  face  was  painted  black  as  death ;  and  as  he 
stood  under  the  arch  of  the  gateway,  with  his  wliite  turbaned  head  towering 
far  above  those  of  his  companions,  this  formidable  and  mysterious  enemy 
might  have  been  likened  to  the  spirit  of  darkness  presiding  over  his  terrible 
legions. 

In  order  to  account  for  the  extraordinary  appearance  of  the  Indians,  armed 
in  every  way  for  death,  at  a  moment  when  neither  gun  nor  tomahawk  was 
apparently  within  miles  of  their  reach,  it  wiU  be  necessary  to  revert  to  the 
first  entrance  of  the  chiefs  into  the  fort.  The  fall  of  Ponteac  had  been  the 
etfect  of  design  ;  and  the  yell  pealed  forth  by  liim.  on  recovering  his  feet,  as 
if  in  taunting  reply  to  the  laugh  of  his  comrades,  was  in  reality  a  signal  in- 
tended for  the  guidance  of  the  Indians  witliout.  These,  now  following  up 
their  game  with  increasing  spirit,  at  once  changed  the  direction  of  their  line, 
bringing  the  ball  nearer  to  the  fort.  In  their  eagerness  to  effect  this  object, 
they  had  overlooked  the  gradual  secession  of  the  unarmed  troops,  spectators 
of  then-  sport,  from  the  ramparts,  imtil  scarcely  more  than  twentv  stragglers 
were  left.  As  the}-  ueared  the  gate,  the  squaws  broke  up  their  several  groups, 
and,  forming  a  line  on  either  hand  of  the  road  leading  to  the  firawbridge.  ap- 
peared to  separate  solely  with  a  view  not  to  impede  the  action  of  the  players. 
For  an  instant  a  dense  group  collected  around  the  ball,  which  had  been  driven 
to  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  gate,  and  fifty  hurdles  were  crossed  in  their 
endeavors  to  secure  it,  when  the  warrior,  who  formed  the  solitary  exception 
to  the  multitude,  in  his  blanket  covering,  and  who  had  been  lingering  in  the 
extreme  rear  of  the  party,  came  rapidly  up  to  the  spot  where  the  well-affected 
struggle  was  maintained,  .^t  his  approach,  the  hurdles  of  the  other  player.? 
were  withdi-awn.  when,  at  a  single  blow  of  his  powerful  arm.  the  ball  was 
seen  flying  into  the  air  in  an  oblique  direction,  and  was  for  a  moment  lost  al- 
together to  the  view.  "When  it  again  met  the  eye,  it  was  descenrling  perpen- 
dicularly into  the  very  centre  of  the  fort. 

With  the  fleetness  of  thought  now  commenced  a  race  that  had  ostensibly 
for  its  object  the  recovery  of  the  lost  ball ;  and  in  whiciT.  he  who  had  driven 
it  with  such  resistless  force,  outstripped  them  all.  Their  course  lav  between 
the  two  lines  of  squaws  ;  and  scarcely  had  the  heads  of  the  bounding  Indians 
reached  the  opposite  extremitj-  of  those  lines,  when  the  women  suddenly 
threw  back  their  blankets,  and  disclosed  each  a  short  gun  and  a  tomahawk. 
To  thi-ow  away^their  hurtUes  and  seize  upon  these,  was  the  work  of  an  in- 
stant. Already,  in  imagination,  was  the  fort  their  o%vn  ;  and.  such  was  the 
pecuhar  exultation  of  the  black  and  turbaned  wan-ior.  when  he  felt  the  planks 
of  the  drawbridge  bending  beneath  his  feet,  all  the  ferocious  joy  of  his  soul 
was  pealed  forth  in  the  terrible  cry  which,  rapidly  succeeded  by  that  of  the 
other  Indians,  had  resounded  so  fearfully  through  the  council  room.  What 
their  disappointment  was.  when,  on  gaining  the  interior,  they  found  the  garri- 
son prepared  for  then-  reception,  has  already  been  shown. 

••  Secure  that  traitor,  men !"  exclaimed  the  governor,  advancing  into  the 
square,  and  pointing  to  the  black  warrior,  whose  quick  eye  was  now  glancing 
on  every  side,  to  discover  some  assailable  point  in  the  formidable  defences  of 
the  troops. 


96       wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

A  laugh  of  scorn  and  derisiou  escaped  the  lips  of  the  wan-ior.  '•  Is  there  a 
man — are  there  any  ten  men,  even  with  Governor  de  Haldimar  at  their  head, 
vrho  will  be  bold  enough  to  attempt  it?"  he  asked.  '-Naj^!"  he  pursued, 
stepping  boldly  a  pace  or  two  in  front  of  tlie  wondering  savages, — "  here  i 
stand  singly,  and  defy  your  whole  garrison  !" 

A  sudden  movement  among  the  soldiers  in  the  guard-room  announced  they 
were  prepai'ing  to  execute  the  order  of  their  chief.  The  eye  of  the  black 
warrior  sparkled  Avith  ferocious  pleasure ;  and  he  made  a  gesture  to  his  fol- 
lowers, which  was  replied  to  by  the  sudden  tension  of  their  hitherto  relaxed 
forms  into  attitudes  of  expectance  and  preparation. 

"  Stay,  men  ;  Cj,uit  not  your  cover  for  your  lives  !"  commanded  the  governor, 
in  a  loud  deep  voice  : — '•  keep  the  barricades  fast,  and  move  not." 

A  cloud  of  auger  and  disappointment  passed  over  the  featm-es  of  the  black 
warrior.  It  was  evident  the  object  of  his  bravado  was  to  draw  the  troops 
from  their  defences,  that  they  might  be  so  mingled  with  their  enemies  as  to 
render  the  cannon  useless,  unless  friends  and  foes  (which  was  by  no  means 
probable)  should  alike  be  sacrificed.  The goveinor  had  penetrated  the  design 
in  time  to  prevent  the  mischief. 

In  a  moment  of  uncontrolla,ble  rage,  the  lavage  warrior  aimed  his  tomahawk 
at  the  head  of  the  governor.  The  latter  stepped  lightly  aside,  and  the  steel 
sank  with  such  force  into  one  of  the  posts  supporting  the  piazza,  that  the 
quivering  handle  snapped  close  off'  at  its  head.  At  that  moment,  a  single  shot, 
fired  from  the  guard-house,  was  drowned  in  the  yell  of  approbation  which 
burst  from  the  lips  of  the  dark  crowd.  The  turban  of  the  warrior  was,  how- 
ever, seen  flying  through  the  air,  carried  away  by  the  force  of  the  buUet  which 
had  torn  it  from  liis  head.     He  himself  was  unharmed. 

"  A  narrow  escape  for  us  both,  Colonel  de  Haldimar."  he  observed,  as  soon 
as  the  yell  had  subsided,  and  with  an  air  of  the  most  perfect  unconcern. 
'•  Had  my  tomahawk  obeyed  the  first  impulse  of  my  heart,  I  should  have 
cursed  myself  and  died :  as  it  is,  I  have  reason  to  avoid  all  useless  exposure 
of  my  own  life,  at  present.  A  second  bullet  may  be  better  directed  ;  and  to 
die.  robbed  of  my  revenge,  would  ill  answer  the  piu'pose  of  a  life  devoted  to  its 
attainment.     Remember  my  pledge  !" 

At  the  hast)'-  command  of  the  governor,  a  hundred  muskets  were  raised  to 
the  shoulders  of  his  men ;  but,  before  a  single  eye  could  glance  along  the  bar- 
rel, the  formidable  and  active  warrior  had  bounded  over  the  heads  of  the  neai-- 
est  Indians  into  a  small  space  that  was  left  unoccupied ;  when,  stooping  sud- 
denl)^  to  the  earth,  he  disappeared  altogether  from  the  xievr  of  his  enemies. 
A  slight  moving  in  the  centre  of  the  numerous  band  crowchng  the  gateway,  and 
extending  even  beyond  the  bridge,  was  now  discernible :  it  was  like  the  waving 
of  a  field  of  standing  corn,  through  which  some  animal  rapidly  winds  its  tor- 
tuous course,  bending  aside  as  the  object  advances,  and  closing  again  when  it 
has  passed.  After  the  lapse  of  a  minute,  the  terrible  warrior  was  seen  to 
spring  again  to  his  feet,  far  in  the  rear  of  the  band  ;  and  then,  uttering  a  fierce 
shout  of  exultation,  to  make  good  his  retreat  towards  the  forest. 

Meanwhile,  Ponteac  and  the  other  chiefs  of  the  council  continued  rooted  to 
the  piazza  on  which  they  had  rushed  at  the  unexpected  display  of  the  armed 
men  behind  the  scarlet  curtain.  The  loud  "  AYaugh  "  that  bin-st  from  the  Ups 
of  all,  on  finding  themselves  thus  foiled  in  their  schemes  of  massacre,  had  been 
succeeded,  the  instant  afterwards,  by  feelings  of  personal  apprehension,  which 
each,  however,  had  collectedness  enough  to  disguise.  Once  the  Ottawa  made 
a  movement  as  if  he  would  have  cleared  the  space  that  kept  him  fro^i  liis  war- 
riors ;  but  the  emphatical  pointing  of  the  finger  of  Colonel  de  Haldimar  to  the 
levelled  muskets  of  the  men  in  the  block-houses  prevented  him,  and  the  at- 
tempt was  not  repeated.  It  was  remarked  by  the  officers,  who  also  stood  on 
the  piazza,  close  behind  the  chiefs,  when  the  black  warrior  threw  his  toma- 
hawk at  the  governor,  a  shade  of  displeasure  passed  over  the  features  of  the 
Ottawa ;  and  that,  when  he  found  the  daring  attempt  was  not  retaliated  oa 


w  A  c  o  ir  s  T  A  ;     o  i; ,    t  u  i;     i'  n  o  i'  ii  k  c  Y  .  07 

his  people,  liis  roiintcnunce  had  been  monieutarily  lighted  up  with  a  satisfied 
expression,  appai-ently  marking  his  sense  of  forbearance  so  unexpectedly- 
shown. 

"  What  says  tlie  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  now  ?"  asked  the  governor, 
cahaly.  and  breaking  a  profound  silence  that  had  succeeded  to  the  last  fierce 
yell  of  the  formidable  being  just  departed.  '"  Was  the  Saganaw  not  right, 
■when  he  said  <he  Ottawa  came  with  guile  in  his  heart,  and  a  lie  upon  his  lips? 
Bill  the  Saganaw  is  not  a  fool,  and  he  can  read  the  thoughts  of  his  enemies 
upon  their  faces,  and  long  before  their  lips  have  spoken." 

"  Ugh  !"  ejiiculatcd  the  Indian  ;  '•  my  father  is  a  great  chief,  and  his  head  is 
full  of  wisdom.  Had  he  been  feeble,  like  the  other  chiefs  of  the  Saganaw,  the 
stronghold  of  the  Detroit  must  have  fallen,  and  the  red  skins  would  have 
danced  their  war  dance  round  the  scalps  of  his  young  men,  even  in  the  council 
room  where  thej-  came  to  talk  of  peace." 

"  Does  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  see  the  big  thunder  of  the  Saganaw?" 
pursued  the  governor:  "if  not,  let  him  open  his  eyes  and  look.  The  Saganavy 
has  but  to  move  his  lips,  and  swifter  than  the  lightning  would  the  pale  faces 
sweep  away  the  warriors  of  the  Ottawa,  even  where  they  now  stand :  in  less 
time  than  tlie  Saganaw  is  now  speaking,  would  they  mow  them  down  like  the 
grass  of  the  prairie." 

"  Ugh  !"  again  exclaimed  the  chief,  with  mixed  doggediiess  and  fierceness : 
'■  if  what  my  father  says  is  true,  why  does  he  not  pour  out  his  anger  upon  the 
red  skins  ?"' 

"  Let  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  listen,"  replied  the  governor  with  dig- 
nity. "  Wlien  the  great  chiefs  of  all  the  nations  that  are  in  league  with  the 
Ottawas  Ciime  last  to  the  council,  the  Saganaw  knew  that  they  carried  deceit  in 
their  hearts,  and  that  they  never  meant  to  smoke  the  pipe  of  peace,  or  to  bury 
the  hatchet  in  the  ground.  The  Saganaw  might  liave  kept  them  prisoners, 
that  their  warriors  might  be  without  a  head  ;  but  he  had  given  his  word  to 
the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas,  and  the  word  of  a  Saganaw  is  never  broken. 
Even  now,  while  both  the  chiefs  and  the  warriors  are  in  his  power,  he  will  not 
slay  them,  for  he  wishes  to  show  the  Ottawa  the  desire  of  the  Saganaw  is  to 
be  friendly  with  the  re<l  skins,  and  not  to  destroy  them.  Wicked  men  from 
the  Canadas  have  whispered  lies  in  the  ear  of  the  Ottawa ;  but  a  great  chief 
should  judge  for  himself  and  take  council  only  from  the  wisdom  of  his  own 
heart.  The  Ottawa  and  his  warriors  may  go,"  he  resumed,  after  a  short  pause; 
"  the  path  by  which  they  came  is  again  open  to  them.  Let  them  depart  in 
peace  ;  the  big  thunder  of  the  Saganaw  shall  not  harm  them." 

The  countenance  of  the  Indian,  who  had  clearly  seen  the  danger  of  his  posi- 
tion, ^vol•e  an  expression  of  surprise  w]iich,_,could  not  be  dissembled :  low  ex- 
clamations passed  between  him  and  his  companions ;  and,  then  pointing  to  the 
tomahawk  that  lay  half  buried  in  the  wood,  he  said,  doubtingly, — 

'"  It  was  the  pale  face,  the  friend  of  the  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas,  who 
struck  the  hatchet  at  my  father.  The  Ottawa  i.-;  not  a  fool  to  believe  the 
Saganaw  can  sleep  without  revenge." 

"  The  great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  shall  know  us  better,"  was  the  reply. 
"  The  young  warriors  of  the  Saganaw  might  destroy  their  enemies  where  they 
now  stand,  but  they  seek  not  their  blood.  When  the  Ottawa  chief  takes 
council  from  his  own  heart,  and  not  from  the  lips  of  a  cowardly  dog  of  a  pale 
face,  who  strikes  his  tomahawk  and  then  flies,  his  wisdom  will  tell  him  to 
make  peace  with  the  Saganaw,  whose  ^^•arriors  are  without  treachery,  even  as 
they  are  without  fear." 

Another  of  those  deep  interjectional  •'  ughs  "  escaped  the  chest  of  the  proud 
Indian. 

'•  What  my  father  says  is  good,"  he  returned  ;  "  but  the  pale  face  is  a  great 
wiirrior.  and  the  Ottawa  chief  is  his  friend.     The  Ottawa  will  go." 

He  then  addressed  a  few  sentences,  in  a  tongue  unknown  to  the  officers,  to  the 
swarthy  and  anxious  crowd  in  front.  These  were  answered  by  a  low,  sullen, 
7 


98  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

yet  assentient  grunt,  from  the  united  band,  who  now  turned,  thousch  with  jus- 
tifiable caution  and  distrust,  and  recrossed  the  drawbridge  without  hinderance 
from  the  troops.  Pontcac  waited  until  the  last  Indian  had  departed,  and  then 
making  a  movement  to  the  governor,  which,  with  all  its  haughtiness,  was 
meant  to  mark  liis  sense  of  the  forbearance  and  good  faith  that  had  been  mani- 
fested, once  more  stalked  proudly  and  camly  across  the  area,  followed  by  the 
remainder  of  the  chiefs.  The  officers  who  Avere  with  the  governor  ascended 
to  the  ramparts,  to  follow  their  movements  ;  and  it  was  not  before  their  report 
had  been  made  that  the  Indians  were  immerging  once  more  into  the  heart  of 
the  forest,  the  troops  were  withdrawn  from  their  formida,ble  defences,  and  the 
gate  of  the  fort  again  firmly  secured. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

While  the  reader  is  left  to  pause  over  the  rapid  succe-ssion  of  incidents 
resulting  from  the  mysterious  entrance  of  the  warrior  of  the  Fleiu-  de  Lis  into 
the  English  fort,  be  it  our  task  to  explain  the  circumstances  connected  with 
the  singular  disappearance  of  Captain  de  Haldimar,  and  the  melancholy  mur- 
der of  his  unfortunate  servant. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  the  ill-foted  Hallo  way.  in  the  course  of  his  de- 
fence before  the  court  martial  distinctly  stated  the  voice  of  the  individual  who 
had  approached  his  post,  calling  on  the  name  of  Captain  de  Haldimar,  on  the 
night  of  the  alarm,  to  have  been  that  of  a  female,  and  that  the  language  in 
-which  they  subsequently  conversed  was  that  of  the  Ottawa  Indians.  Tliis 
was  strictly  the  fact ;  and  the  only  error  into  which  the  unfortunate  soldier 
had  fallen,  had  reference  merely  to  the  character  and  motives  of  the  party. 
He  had  naturally  imagined,  as  he  had  stated,  it  was  some  young  female  of  the 
village,  whom  attachment  for  his  officer  had  driven  to  the  desperate  determi- 
nation of  seeking  an  interview;  nor  was  this  impression  at  all  weakened  by 
the  subsequent  discourse  of  the  parties  in  the  Indian  tongue,  with  which  it 
was  well  known,  most  of  the  Canadians,  both  male  and  female,  were  more  or 
less  conversant.  The  object  of  that  short,  low,  and  hurried  conference  was, 
indeed,  one  that  well  warranted  the  singular  intrusion ;  and,  in  the  declara- 
tion of  Halloway,  we  have  already  seen  the  importance  and  anxietjr  atta,ched 
by  the  young  officer  to  the  communication.  Without  waiting  to  repeat  the 
motives  assigned  for  his  departure,  and  the  prayers  nnd  expostulations  to 
which  lis  had  recourse  to  overcome  the  determination  and  sense  of  duty  of  the 
unfortunate  sentinel,  let  us  p|iss  at  once  to  the  moment  when,  after  having 
cleared  the  ditch,  conjointly  with  his  faithful  follower,  in  the  manner  already 
shown,  Captain  de  Haldimar  first  stood  side  by  side  with  his  midnight  visi- 
tant. 

The  night,  it  has  elsewhere  been  observed,  was  clear  and  starry,  so  that  ob- 
jects upon  the  common,  such  as  the  rude  stump  that  here  and  there  raised  its 
dark  low  head  above  the  surface,  might  bo  dimly  seen'  in  the  distance.  To 
obviate  the  danger  of  discovery  by  the  sentinels,  appeared  to  be  the  first  study 
of  the  female ;  for,  when  Captain  de  Haldimar,  follo\A^cd  by  his  servant,  had 
reached  the  spot  on  which  she  stood,  she  put  the  forefinger  of  one  hand  to  her 
lips,  and  with  the  other  pointed  to  his  liooted  foot.  A  corresponding  signal 
showed  that  the  lightness  of  the  material  oifered  little  risk  of  betrayal.  Do- 
nellan,  however,  was  made  to  doff  his  heavy  ammunition  shoes ;  and,  v.'ith 
this  precaution,  they  all  stole  hastily  along,  under  the  shadows  of  the  project- 
ing ramparts,  until  they  had  gained  the  extreme  rear.  Here  the  female  sud- 
denly raised  her  tall  figure  from  the  stooping  position  in  which  she.  as  ivell  as 
her  companions,  had  performed  the  dangerous  circuit ;  and,  placing  her  finger 
once  more  significantly  on  her  lips,  led  in  the  direction  of  the  bomb-proof,  un- 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OK,     THE      PROPHECY.  99 

perceived  by  the  sentinels,  most  of  wiiora,  it  is  probable,  had,  vip  to  the  mo- 
ment of  the  alarni  subsequently  f^iveii,  been  too  lauch  overcome  by  previous 
watchinj^  and  excitement  to  have  kept  the  most  vigilant  look  out. 

Ai-rived  at  the  skirt  of  the  forest,  the  little  party  drew  up  within  the  sha- 
dow of  the  ruin,  and  a  short  and  earnest  dialogue  ensued,  in  Indian,  between 
the  female  and  the  officer.  This  was  succeeded  by  a  command  from  the  lat- 
ter to  his  servant,  wlio,  after  a  momentary  but  respectful  expostulation,  which, 
howcvel-,  was  utterly  lost  on  him  to  vv-hom  it  was  addressed,  proceeded  to  di- 
vest himself  of  his  humble  apparel,  assuming  in  exchange  the  more  elegant 
uniform  of  his  superior.  Douellan,  who  was  also  of  the  grenadiers,  was  re- 
markable for  the  resemblance  he  bore,  in  figure,  to  Captain  de  Ilaldimar ; 
wanting,  it  is  true,  the  grace  and  freedom  of  movement  of  the  latter,  but  still 
presenting  an  outline  which,  in  an  attitude  of  profound  repose,  might,  as  it 
subsequently  did,  have  set  even  those  who  were  most  intimate  with  the  oflScer 
at  favdt. 

"  This  is  well,"  observed  the  female,  as  the  young  man  proceeded  to  induct 
himself  in  the  grey  coat  of  his  servant,  having  previouf-ly  drawn  the  glazed 
hat  close  over  his  waving  and  redundant  hair  ;  "  if  the  Saganaw  is  ready,  Ou- 
canasta  will  go." 

"  Sure,  and  your  honor  does  not  mane  to  lave  me  behind  !"  exclaimed  the 
anxious  solcher,  as  his  captai||now  recommended  him  to  stand  close  concealed 
near  the  ruin  until  his  retui-n.  "  Who  knows  what  ambuscade  the  she-divil 
mav  lead  yom*  honor  mto ;  and  thin  who  will  you  have  to  bring  you  out 
of  It  ?" 

"  No,  Donellan,  it  must  not  be :  I  first  intended  it,  as  you  may  perceive  by 
my  bringing  you  out ;  but  the  expedition  on  wtiich  I  am  going  is  of  the  ut- 
most importance  to  us  all,  and  too  much  precaution  cannot  be  taken.  I  fear 
no  ambuscade,  for  I  can  depend  on  the  fidelity  of  my  guide  ;  but  the  presence 
of  a  third  person  woidd  only  embarrass,  without  assisting  me  in  the  least. 
You  must  remain  behind  ;  the  woman  insists  upon  it,  and  there  is  no  more  to 
be  said." 

"  To  ould  Nick  vrith  the  ugly  witch,  for  her  pains  ! "  half  muttered  the  dis- 
appointed soldier  to  himself.  '"  I  wish  it  may  be  as  your  honor  says  ;  but  my 
mind  misgives  me  sadly  that  evil  will  come  of  this.  Has  j^our  honor  secured 
the  pistols  •?" 

"  They  are  here,"  returned  his  captain,  placing  a  hand  on  either  chest. 
"  And  now,  Donellan,  mark  me  :  I  know  notliing  that  can  detain  me  longer 
than  an  hoiu- ;  at  least  the  woman  assures  me,  andl  beheve  her,  that  I  may 
be  back  then  ;  but  it  is  well  to  guard  against  accidents.  You  must  continue 
here  for  the  horn-,  and  for  t!ie  hour  only.  If  I  come  not  then,  return  to  the 
fort  without  delay,  for  the  rope  must  be  removed,  and  the  gate  secured  before 
Halloway  is  relieved.  The  keys  you  will  find  in  tlie  -pocket  of  my  uniform : 
when  you  have  done  with  them,  let  them  be  hung  up  in  their  proper  place  in 
the  guard-room.  My  father  must  not  knovv-  either  that  Halloway  suffered 
me  to  pass  the  gate,  or  that  you  accompanied  me." 

"  Lord  love  us  !  your  honor  talks  as  if  you  would  niver  return,  giving  smh 
a  heap  of  orders  ! "  exclaimed  the  startled  man  ;  "  but  if  i  go  back  alone,  as 
I  trust  in  heaven  I  shall  not,  how  am  I  to  account  for  being  dressed  in  your 
honor's  regimentals  ?" 

"  I  tell  you,  Donellan,"  impatiently  returned  the  ofBcer,  "  that  I  shall  be 
back  ;  but  I  only  wish  to  guard  against  accidents.  The  instant  you  get  into 
the  fort,  you  will  take  ofi  my  clothes  and  resume  your  own.  Who  the  devil 
is  to  see  you  in  the  uniform,  unless  it  be  Halloway  ?" 

"  If  the  Saganaw  would  not  see  the  earth  red  A\dth  the  blood  of  his  race, 
he  will  go."  intejTupted  the  female.  ''  Oucanasta  can  feel  the  breath  of  the 
morning  fresh  upon  her  cheek,  and  the  council  of  the  chiefs  must  be  begun." 

"  The  Saganaw  is  ready,  and  Oucanasta  shall  lead  the  way,"  hastily  returned 
the  officer.     •'  One  word  more,  Donellan,"  and  he  pressed  the  hand  of  his  do- 


"iOO      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

mestic  kindly :  '•  should  I  not  return,  yon  must,  without  committing  Hallo- 
way  or  yourself,  cause  my  father  to  1k3  appi'ised  that  the  Indians  meditate  a 
deep  and  treacherous  plan  to  get  possession  of  the  fort.  What  that  plan  is, 
I  know  not  yet  myself,  neither  does  this  woman  know  ;  but  she  says  I  shall 
hear  it  discussed  imseen,  even  in  the  heart  of  their  own  encampment.  All 
you  have  to  do  is  to  acquaint  my  father  with  the  existence  of  danger.  And 
now  be  cautious :  above  all  things,  keep  close  under  the  shadow  of  the  boralj- 
proof ;  for  there  are  scouts  constantly  prowling  about  the  common,  and  the 
glittering  of  the  uniform  in  the  starlight  may  betray  you." 

"  But  why  may  I  not  follow  your  honor  ?"  again  urged  the  faithful  soldier  ; 
"  and  where  is  the  use  of  my  remaining  here  to  count  the  stars,  and  hear  the 
'  all's  well ! '  from  the  fort,  when  I  could  be  so  much  better  employed  in  guard- 
ing your  honor  from  harm  ?  What  sort  of  protection  can  that  Ingian  woman 
aflbrd,  who  is  of  the  race  of  our  bitterest  enemies,  them  ciu-sed  Ottawas,  and 
your  honor  venturing,  too,  like  a  spy  into  the  very  heart  of  the  blood-liounds  1 
Ah,  Captain  de  Haldimar.  for  the  love  of  (jrod,  do  not  trust  yourself  alone 
'with  her,  or  I  am  sure  I  shall  never  see  your  honor  again  ! " 

The  last  words  (unhappily  too  prophetic)  fell  only  on  the  ear  of  him  who 
uttered  them.  The  female  and  the  officer  had  already  disappeared  round  an 
abrupt  angle  of  the  bomb-proof;  and  the  soldier,  as  directed  by  his  master, 
now  drew  up  his  tall  figui-e  against  the  ruin,  where  he  continued  for  a  period 
immovable,  as  if  he  had  been  planted  there  in  his  ordinary  character  of  sen- 
tinel, listening,  until  they  eventually  died  away  in  distance,  to  the  receding 
footsteps  of  his  master ;  and  then  ruminating  on  the  several  apprehensions 
that  crowded  on  his  mind,  in  regard  to  the  probable  issue  of  his  adventurous 
■project. 

Meanwhile,  Captain  de  Haldimar  and  his  guide  trod  the  mazes  of  the  forest, 
with  an  expedition  that  pi-oved  the  latter  to  be  well  acquainted  with  its  bear- 
ings. On  quitting  the  bomb-]iroof,  she  had  struck  into  a  narrow  winding 
path,  less  seen  than  felt  in  the  deep  gloom  pervading  the  wood,  and  with  light 
steps  bounded  over  obstacles  that  lay  strewed  in  their  course,  emitting  scarcely 
more  sound  than  would  have  been  produced  by  the  slimy  crawl  of  its  native 
rattlesnake.  Not  so,  hov.'ever,  with  the  less  experienced  tread  of  her  com- 
panion. Wanting  the  pliancy  of  movement  given  to  it  by  the  light  mocassin, 
the  booted  foot  of  the  young  officer,  despite  of  all  his  precaution,  fell  heavily 
to  the  ground,  producing  .such  a  rustling  among  the  dried  leaves,  that,  had  an 
'Indian  ear  been  lurking  anywhere  atound,  his  api^roach  must  inevitably  have 
been  betrayed.  More  than  once,  too,  neglecting  to  follow  the  injunction  of 
his  companion,who  moved  in  a  stooping  posture,  with  her  head  bent  over  her 
chest,  his  hat  was  caught  in  the  closely  matted  branches,  and  fell  sullenly  and 
heavily  to  the  earth,  evidently  much  to  the  discomfiture  of  his  guide. 

At  length  they  stood  on  the  verge  of  a  dark  and  precipitous  ravine,  the  ab- 
rupt sides  of  which  were  studded  with  underwood,  so  completely  interwoven 
that  all  passage  appeared  impracticable.  What,  however,  seemed  an  insur- 
mountable obstacle,  proved,  in  reality,  an  estimable  advantage  ;  for  it  was  by 
clinging  to  this,  in  imitation  of  the  example  set  by  his  companion,  the  young 
officer  was  prevented  from  rolling  into  an  abyss,  "the  depth  of  which  was  lost 
in  the  profoand  obscurity  that  pervaded  the  scene.  Through  the  bed  of  this 
dark  dell  rolled  a  narrow  stream,  so  imperceptible  to  the  eye  in  the  ''  living 
darkness,"  and  so  noiseless  in  its  course,  that  it  was  not  until  warned  by  his 
companion  he  stood  on  the  very  brink  of  it.  Captain  de  Haldimar  was  made 
sensible  of  its  existence.  Both  cleared  it  at  a  single  bound,  in  whicli  the  ac- 
tivity of  the  female  was  not  the  least  conspicuous,  and,  clambering  up  the 
opposite  steep,  secured  their  footing  by  the  aid  of  the  same  underwood  that 
had  assi;;ied  them  in  their  descent. 

On  gaining  the  other  summit,  which  was  not  done  without  detaching  seve- 
ral large  stones  from  tlieir  sandy  bed,  they  again  fell  into  the  path  which  had 
been  lost  sight  of  in  traversing"  the  ravine.     They  had  proceeded  along  thi.s 


\V  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      O  II  ,     'I-  H  K      P  .1  O  p  H  i  C  Y  .  \0  >i 

about  lialf  a  mile,  when  the  lemale  suddenly  stop})e(l,  and  pointing:  to  a  dim 
and  lurid  atmosphere  that  now  began  to  show  itself  between  tlie  thin  foliage, 
whispered  that  in  the  opening  beA'cnd  stood  the  encampment  of  the  Indiana. 
She  then  seated  hei-self  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree,  that  lay  at  the  side  of 
the  almost  invisible  path  they  had  hitherto  pursued,  and  motioning  to  her 
companion  to  unboot  himself;  proceeded  to  unlace  the  fastenings  of  her  mo- 
cassins. 

••  The  foot  of  the  Saganaw  must  fixll  like  the  night  dew  on  the  prairie,"  she- 
observed  ;  "  the  ear  of  the  red  skin  is  quicker  than  the  lightning,  and  he  will 
know  th.at  a  pale  face  is  near,  if  he  hear  but  his  tread  iipon  a  blade  of  grass." 

The  young  officer  had,  at  the  lirst  .suggestion  of  his  guide,  divested  himself 
of  his  boots,  prepared  to  perform  the  i-emainder  of  the  journey  merely  in  his 
stockings,  but  his  companion  now  threw  herself  on  her  knees  before  him,  and, 
H-ithout  further  ceremony,  proceeded  to  draw  over  his  foot  one  of  the  mocas- 
sins she  had  just  relinquished. 

"  The  f.'et  of  the  Saganaw  are  soft  as  those  of  a  young  child,"  she  remark- 
ed, in  a  voice  of  commiseration ;  •'  but  the  mocassins  of  Oucanasta  shall 
protect  them  from  the  thorns  of  the  forest." 

This  was  too  im-European, — too  much-  reversing  the  established  order  of 
things,  to  be  borne  patiently.  As  if  he  h.ad  felt  the  dignity  of  his  manhood 
olFended  by  the  proi)Osal,  the  officer  drew  his  foot  hastily  back,  declaring,  as 
he  sprang  from  the  log,  he  did  not  care  for  the  thorns,  and  could  not  think  of 
depriving  a  female,  who  must  be  much  more  sensible  of  pain  than  himself. 

Ducanasta,  however,  was  not  to  be  outdone  in  politeness.  She  calmly  re- 
seated herself  on  the  log,  drew  her  right  foot  over  her  left  knee,  caught  one 
of  the  hands  of  her  companion,  and  placing  it  upon  the  naked  sole,  desired 
him  to  leel  how  impervious  to  attack  of  every  description  was  that  indurated 
portion  of  the  lower  limb. 

This  practical  argument  was  not  without  its  weight,  and  had  more  effect  in 
deciding  the  officer  than  a  volume  of  remonstrance.  When  Captain  do  Haldi- 
mar  had  pas.sed  his  unwilling  hand  over  the  foot  of  Oucanasta,  which,  what- 
ever her  face  might  have  been,  was  certs'.ijily  anything  but  delicate,  and 
encountered  numerous  ragged  excrescences  and  raspy  callosities  that  set  all 
symmetry  at  defiance,  a  wonderfid  revolution  came  over  his  feelings  ;  and 
secretly  determining  the  mocassins  would  be  equally  well  placed  on  his  own 
feet,  he  no  longer  offered  any  opposition. 

This  important  point  arranged,  the  officer  once  more  followed  his  guide  in 
silence.  Gradually  the  forest,  as  they  advanced,  became  lighter  v.'ith  the  lurid 
atmosphere  before  alluded  to ;  and  at  length,  through  the  trees,  could  be  in- 
distinctly seen  the  Indian  fires  from  which  it  proceeded.  The  young  man  was. 
now  desired  by  his  conductress  to  use  the  utmost  circumspection  in  making 
the  cu'cuit  of  the  wood,  in  order  to  gain  a  position  immediately  opposite  to 
the  point  where  the  path  they  had  hitherto  pursued  terminated  in  the  opening. 
This,  indeed,  was  the  most  dangerous  and  critical  part  of  the  undertaking. 
A  false  step,  or  the  crackling  of  a  decayed  branch  beneath  the  foot,  would 
have  been  sufficient  to  betray  proximit}^,  in  which  case  his  doom  was  sealed. 

Fortunate  did  he  now  deem  himself  in  having  yielded  to  the  counsel  of  his 
guide.  Had  he  retained  his  unbending  boot,  it  must  have  crushed  w^hatever 
it  pressed  ;  whereas,  the  pliant  mocassin,  yielding  to  the  obstacles  it  encoun- 
tered, enabled  him  to  pass  noiselessly  over  them.  Still,  while  exempt  from 
danger  on  this  score,  another,  scarcely  less  perplexing,  became  at  everv  instant 
more  olivious :  for,  as  they  drew  nearer  to  the  point  vvhich  the  female  sought 
to  gain,  the  dim  light  of  the  half-slimibering  fires  fell  so  inmiediately  upon 
their  path,  that  had  a  single  human  ej-e  been  turned  in  that  direction,  their 
discovery  was  inevitable.  It  was  with  a  beating  heart,  to  which  mere  personal 
fear,  however,  was  a  stranger,  that  Captain  de  Haldimar  performed  this  con- 
cluding stage  of  his  adventurous  course  ;  but,  at  a  moment  when  he  considered 
detection  unavoidable,  and  was  arming  himself  with  resolution,  to  meet  the 


;  ■'^^'.  .V  f.  c  0-  vji  T  A  :     OR,    the    prophecy. 

■cirent,  triO  female  suddenly  halted,  placins',  in  the  act,  the  trunk  of  au  enor- 
T»eus  beech  between  her  oorapanion  and  the  dusky  forms  within,  whose  very 
toeathing  could  be  heard  by  the  anxious  officer.  Without  uttering  a  word, 
slie  took  his  hand,  and  drawing  him  gently  forward,  disappeared  altogether 
from  his  view.  Tlie  young  man  followed,  and  in  the  next  moment  found 
laiinself  in  the  bowelless  body  of  the  tree  itself;  into  which,  on  the  side  of 
the  encampment,  both  light  and  sound  were  admitted  by  a  small  aperture 
&rmed  by  the  natural  decay  of  the  wood. 

The  Indian  pressed  her  lips  to  the  ear  of  her  companion,  and  rather  breath- 
ed than  said, — "  The  Saganaw  will  see  and  hear  every  thing  from  this  in  safety ; 
and  what  he  hears  let  him  treasure  in  his  heart.  Oucanastamust  go.  When 
the  council  is  over  she  will  return,  and  lead  him  back  to  his  warriors." 

With  this  brief  intimation  she  departed,  and  so  noiselessly,  that  the  young 
officer  was  not  aware  of  her  absence  until  some  minutes  of  silence  had  satisfi- 
ed him  she  must  be  gone.  His  first  ca,re  then  was  to  survej^,  through  the 
aperture  that  lay  in  a  level  with  his  eye,  the  character  of  the  scene  before 
hjm.  The  small  plain,  in  which  lay  the  encampment  of  the  Indians,  was  a 
SJit  of  oasis  of  the  forest,  girt  around  with  a  rude  belt  of  underwood,  and 
somewhat  elevated,  so  as  to  present  the  appearance  of  a  mound,  constructed 
on  the  first  principles  of  art.  This  v.-as  thic]i;ly,  although  irregularly  studded 
with  tents,  some  of  which  wei-e  formed  of  large  coarse  mats  thrown  over 
poles  disposed  in  a  conical  shape,  while  others  were  more  rudely  composed  of 
the  leafy  branches  of  the  forest. 

Within  these,  groups  of  human  forms  lay  \vrapped  in  their  blankets,  stretch- 
ed, at  their  lazy  length.  Others,  v^ith  their  feet  placed  close  to  the  dying 
embers  of  their  fires,  diverged  like  .^^o  many  radii  from  their  centre,  and  lay 
jnotionless  in  sleep,  as  if  life  and  consciousness  were  wholly  extinct.  Here 
smd  there  was  to  be  seen  a  solitiirj'  warrior  securing,  with  admiable  neatness, 
and  with  delicate  ligatures  formed  of  the  sinew  of  the  deer,  the  guiding  feath- 
er, or  fashioning  tlie  bony  barb  of  his  long  arrow,;  while  others,  with  the 
same  warlike  s)/:!it  in  view,  employed  themselves  in  cutting  and  greasing  small 
patches  of  suKilvj  1  d -rskiu,  which  were  to  secure  and  give  a  more  certain 
direction  to  iiie  murderous  bullet.  Among  the  warriors  were  interspersed 
laany  women,  some  of  whom  might  be  seen  supporting  in  their  laps  the  heavy 
faeads  of  their  unconscious  helpmates,  while  they  occupied  themselves,  by  the 
Urclight,  in  parting  the  long  black  matted  hair,  and  maintainmg  a  destructive 
iv^arfarc  against  the  pigmy  inhabitants  of  that  dark  i-egion.  These  signs  of 
life  and  activity  in  the  body  of  the  <;amp  generally  were,  however,  but  few 
aisd  occasional ;  and,  at  the  spot  where  Captain  de  Haldimar  stood  concealed, 
the  scenic  was  differeni.  At  a  few  yards  from  the  tree  stood  a  sort  of  shed, 
composed  of  tall  poles  placed  upright  in  the  earth,  and  supporting  a  roof 
formed  simply  of  rude  boughs,  the  foliage  of  which  had  been  withered  by  time. 
Tfeis  simple  edifice  might  be  about  fifty  feet  in  circumference.  In  the  centre 
Mazed  a  large  fire  that  had  been  newly  fed,  and  around  this  were  assembled 
a  band  of  swarthy  warriors,  some  twenty  or  thirty  in  number,  who,  by  their 
jfjw>ud,  calm,  and  thoughtful  bearing,  might  at  once  be  known  to  be  chiefs. 

The  faces  of  most  of  these  were  familiar  to  the  young  officer,  who  speedily 
recognised  them  for  the  principals  of  the  various  tribes  Ponteac  had  leagued 
m  arms  against  his  enemies.  That  chief  himself,  ever  remarkable  for  his 
IjstHghty  eye  and  commanding  gesture,  was  of  the  number  of  those  present ; 
smd  sat  a "  little  aloof  from  his  inferiors,  with  his  feet  stretched  towards  the 
ixre,  and  half  reclining  on  his  side  in  an  attitude  of  indolence  ;  yet  with  his 
mmd  evidently  engrossed  by  deep  and  absorbing  thought.  From  some  ob- 
is^vations  that  distinctly  met  his  ear,  Captain  de  Haldimar  gathered,  the  party 
were  only  awaiting  the  arrival  of  an  important  character,  without  whose 
]^r«sence  "the  leading  chief  was  unwilling  the  conference  should  begin.  The 
period  of  the  oflicer's  concealment  had  just  been  long  enough  to  enable  him  to 
^iK  all  these  particulars  in  his  mind,  when  suddenly  the  faint  report  of  a 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      1'  R  0  P  H  K  C  Y  ,  103 

distant  viflt;  was  heard  eclioing  Ihroughont  tho  wood.  This  was  instantly 
snccoeded  b}'  a  second,  tliat  sounded  more  sliarply  on  the  ear ;  and  then  fol- 
lowsd  a  long  and  piercing  cry  that  brought  every  warrior,  even  thotic  who 
slept,  quickly  to  his  feet. 

An  anxiou.^  interval  of  some  minutes  passed  away  in  the  fixed  and  list'^-ir'-;-^ 
attitudes,  which  the  chiefs  especiall}-  had  assumed,  when  a  noise  rescu.  :  , 
that  of  some  animal  forcing  its  way  rai)idl3'-  through  the  rustling  bi:ii.  .  • 
was  laintly  heard  in  the  direction  in  which  the  shots  had  been  fired.  Ti'Js 
gradually  increased  as  it  evidently  approached  the  encampment,  and  then,  dis- 
tinctly, could  be  heard  the  light  yet  unguarded  boundings  of  a  human  foot. 
At  every  moment  the  rustling  of  the  underwood,  rapidly  divided  by  the 
approaching  form,  became  more  audible ;  and  so  closel}^  did  the  intruder  press 
upon  the  point  in  which  Captain  de  Haldimar  was  concealed,  that  that  oiticer, 
fancN'ing  he'had  been  betra3'ed.  turned  hastily  around,  and,  grasi'>ing  one  of 
the  pistols  he  had  secreted  in  the  chest,  prepared  himself  for  a  last  ajid  deadly 
encounter.  An  instant  or  two  was  sufficient  to  re-assure  him.  The  form 
glided  hastily  past,  brushing  the  tree  with  its  garments  in  its  course,  and 
clearing,  at  a  single  bound,  the  belt  of  underwood  that  divided  the  encamp- 
ment fi'om  the  tall  forest,  stood  suddenly  among  the  group  of  anxious  and 
expectant  chiefs. 

This  individual,  a  man  of  tall  stature,  was  powerfully  made.  He  wore  a 
jerkin,  or  hunting-coat  of  leather  ;  and  his  arms  were,  a  rifle  which  had  every 
appearance  of  having  just  been  discharged,  a  tomahawk  reeking  with  blood, 
and  a  scalping  knife,  which,  in  the  hurrj^  of  some  recent  service  it  had  been 
made  to  perform,  had  missed  its  sheath,  and  was  thrust  naked  into  the  belt 
that  encircled  his  loins.  His  countenance  wore  an  expression  of  malignant 
triumph ;  and  as  his  e3"e  fell  on  the  assembled  throng,  its  self-satisiied  and 
exulting  glance  seemed  to  give  them  to  understand  he  came  not  without  cre- 
dentials to  recommend  him  to  their  notice.  Captain  de  Haldimar  was  par- 
ticularlj^  struck  by  the  air  of  bold  dariiig  and  almost  insolent  reckloKsness 
pervading  every  movement  of  this  man  :  and  it  was  difticult  to  say  v/heihor 
the  haughtiness  of  bearing  peculiar  to  Ponteac  himself,  was  not  exceeded  by 
that  of  this  herculean  warrior. 

By  the  body  of  cb.iefs  his  appearance  had  been  greeted  with  a  mere  general 
grunt  of  appi'obation ;  but  the  coumionance  of  the  leader  expressed  a  more 
personal  interest.  All  seemed  to  expect  he  had  something  of  moment  to  com- 
municate; but  as  it  was  not  consistent  with  the  dignity  of  Indian  etiquette 
to  enquu-e,  they  waited  calmly  until  it  should  please  their  new  associate  to 
enter  on  the  history  of  his  exploits.  In  pursuance  of  an  invitation  from  Pon- 
teac, he  now  toolc  his  seat  on  the  right  hand  of  that  chief,  and  immediately 
facing  the  tree,  from  which  Captain  de  Haldimar.  strongly  excited  both  by 
the  reports  of  the  shots  that  had  been  tired,  and  the  sight  of  the  bloody  toma- 
hawk of  the  recently  arrived  Indian,  gazed  earnestly  and  anxiously  on  the 
swarthy  tlirong. 

Glancing  once  more  triumphantly  round  the  cn-cle.  who  sat  smoking  their  ' 
pipes  in  ca!m'  nn  1  deliberative  silence,  the  latter  now  obsei-ved  the  eye  of  a 
youny-  chief  who  sat  opposite  to  him,  intently  riveted  on  his  left  shoulder. 
He  raised  his  hand  to  the  part,  v.'ithd'rew  it,  looked  at  it,  and  found  it  wet 
with  blood.  A  slight  start  of  surprise  betrayed  his  own  unconsciousness  of 
the  :iccident ;  yet,  secretlj-  vexefl  at  the  discovery  which  had  been  made,  and 
iirgcd  probably  by  one  of  his  wayward  fits,  he  demanded  haughtily  and  in- 
sultingly of  the  jouug  chief,  if  that  was  the  first  time  he  hi^d  ever  looked  on 
the  blood  of  a  warrior. 

"  Docs  my  brother  feel  pain  ?"  was  the  taunting  reply.  '•  If  he  is  come  to 
us  with  a  trophy,  it  is  not  without  being  dearly  bought.  The  Saganaw  has 
siJilt  his  blood."" 

"  The  weapons  of  the  Saganaw,  like  tho.se  of  the  smooth  face  of  the  Ottawa 
are  without  sting,"  angrily  retorted  the  other.     '•  They  only  prick  the  skin 


104  W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      PROPHECY. 

like  a  thorn  ;  but  wlien  Wacousta  drinks  the  blood  of  his  enemy,"  and  he 
glanced  his  eye  fiercely  at  the  young  man,  '•  it  is  the  blood  next  his  heart." 

"  My  brother  has  alwa3-s  big  words  upon  his  lips,"  returned  the  yoimg 
chief,  with  a  scornful  sneer  at  the  implied  threat  against  himself.  '•  But  where 
are  his  proofs  ?" 

For  a  moment  the  eye  of  the  party  thus  challenged  kindled  into  flame, 
while  his  lips  were  firmly  compressed  together  ;  and  as  he  half  bent  himself 
forward,  to  scan  with  greater  earnestness  the  features  of  his  questioner,  his 
right  hand  sank'  to  his  left  side,  tightly  grasping  the  handle  of  his  scalping- 
knife.  The  action  was  but  momentary.  Again  he  drew  himself  up,  puffed 
the  smoke  deliberatel}'  from  his  bloody  tomahawk,  and.  thrusting  his  right 
hand  into  his  bosom,  drew  leisurely  forth  a  reeking  scalp,  which  he  tossed 
insolentlj'  across  the  fire  into  the  lap  of  the  young  chief.  A  loud  and  general 
''  ugh  !"  testified  the  approbation  of  the  assem]>led  group  at  the  unequivocal 
answer  thus  given  to  the  demand  of  the  j'outh.  The  eye  of  the  huge  warrior 
sparkled  with  a  deep  and  ferocious  exultation. 

'•What  says  the  smooth  face  of  the  Ottawas  now?"  he  demanded,  in  the 
same  insolent  strain.  "  Docs  it  make  his  heart  sick  to  look  upon  the  scalp  of 
a  great  chief?" 

The  young  man  quietly  turned  the  horrid  trophy  over  several  times  in  his 
hand,  examining  it  attentively  in  eveiy  part.  Then  tossing  it  back  with  con- 
temptuous coolness  to  its  owner,  he  replied, — 

"  T'he  eyes  of  my  brother  are  weak  with  age.  He  is  not  cunning,  like  a  red 
skin.  The  Ottawa  has  often  seen  the  Saganaw  in  their  fort,  and  he  1-Lnows 
their  chiefs  have  fine  hair  like  women ;  but  this  is  like  the  bristle  of  the  fox. 
My  brother  has  not  slain  a  great  chief,  but  a  common  warrior." 

A  flush  of  irrepressible  and  threatening  anger  passed  over  the  features  of 
the  vast  savage. 

''Is  it  for  a  boy,"  he  fiercely  asked,  "  whose  eyes  know  not  yet  the  color  of 
blood,  to  judge  of  the  enemies  that  fall  by  the  tomahawk  of  Wacousta?  but  a 
great  warrior  never  boasts  of  actions  that  he  does  not  achieve.  It  is  the  son 
of  the  great  chief  of  the  Saganaw  whom  he  has  slain.  If  the  smooth  face 
doubts  it.  and  has  courage  to  ventm-e,  even  at  night,  within  a  hundred 
j^ards  of  the  fort,  he  will  see  a  Saganaw  without  a  scalp  ;  and  he  will  know- 
that  Saganaw  b}^  his  dress — the  dress,"  he  pursued,  with  a  low  emphatic 
laugh,  '•  that  Oucanasta,  the  sister  of  the  smooth  fiice,  loved  so  much  to  look 
upon." 

Quicker  than  thought  was  the  upspringing  of  the  young  Indian  to  his  feet. 
With  a  cheek  glowing,  an  eye  flashing,  and  his  gleaming  tomahawk  whirling 
rapidly  round  his  head,  he  cleared  at  a  single  bound  the  fire  that  sepai-ated 
him  from  his  insuiter.  T'he  formidable  man  who  had  thus  wantonly  pro\oked 
the  attack,  was  equally  prompt  in  meeting  it.  At  the  first  movement  of  the 
youth,  he  too  had  leapt  to  his  feet,  and  brandished  the  terrible  Aveapon  that 
served  in  the  double  capacity  of  pipe  and  hatchet.  A  fierce  yell  escaped  the 
lips  of  each,  as  thej^  thus  met  in  close  and  hostile  collision,  and  the  scene  for 
the  moment  promised  to  be  one  of  the  most  tragic  character;  but  before 
either  could  find  an  assailable  point  on  which  to  test  his  formidable  weapon, 
Ponteac  himself  had  thrown  his  person  between  them,  and  in  a  voice  of  thun- 
der commanded  the  instant  abandonment  of  tlieir  purpose.  Exasperated  even 
as  they  now  mutually  were,  the  influence  of  that  authority,  foi-  which  the 
great  chief  of  the  Ottawas  was  well  known,  was  not  Vv'ithout  due  effect  on  the 
combatants.  His  anger  was  principally  directed  against  the  assail,'>.nt,  on  whom 
the  tones  of  his  reproving  voice  produced  a  change  the  intimidation  of  his 
powerful  opponent  could  never  have  affected.  The  young  chief  dropped  the 
point  of  his  tomahawk ;  bowed  his  head  in  submission,  and  then  resuming  his 
seat,  sat  during  the  remainder  of  the  night  with  his  arms  folded,  aad  his  head 
bent  in  silence  over  his  chest. 

"  Our  brother  has  done  well,"  said  Ponteac.  glancing  approvingly  at  him 


w  A  c  o  u  !j  r  A  ;    or,    t  h  e    p  r  o  i'  h  k  c  y  .  105 

who  had  exhibited  the  reeking  trophy,  and  wiioni  he  evidently  favored.  "  He 
is  a  great  chief,  and  his  words  are  truth.  AYe  heard  the  report  of  his  rifle,  and 
we  also  heard  the  cry  that  told  he  had  borne  away  the  scalp  of  an  enemy. 
But  we  will  think  of  this  to-morrow.     Let  us  now  commence  our  talk." 

Our  i-eaders  will  readHy  imagine  the  feelings  of  Captain  de  Ilaldimar  during 
this  short  but  exciting  scene.  From  the  account  given  by  the  warrior,  there 
could  be  no  doubt  the  murdered  man  was  the  unhappy  Doncllan ;  who,  pro- 
bably, neglecting  the  caution  given  liim,  had  exposed  himself  to  the  murderous 
aim  of  this  fierce  being,  who  was  apparently  a  scout  sent  for  the  purpose  of 
watching  the  movements  of  the  garrison.  The  direction  of  the  firing,  the  al- 
lusion made  to  the  regimentals,  nay,  the  scalp  itself,  which  he  knew  from  the 
short  crop  to  be  that  of  a  soldier,  and  fancied  he  recognised  from  its  color  to 
be  that  of  his  servant,  formed  but  too  conclusive  evidence  of  the  fact ;  and,  bit- 
tcrl)'  and  deeply,  as  he  gazed  on  this  melancholy  proof  of  the  man's  sacrifice 
of  life  to  his  interest,  did  he  repent  that  he  had  made  him  the  companion  of 
his  adventui-e,  or  that,  having  done  so,  he  had  not  either  brought  him  away 
altogether,  or  sent  him  instantly  back  to  the  fort.  Commiseration  for  the  fate 
of  the  unfortunate  Donellan  naturally  induced  a  spirit  of  personal  hostility  to- 
wards his  destroyer  ;  and  it  was  with  feelings  strongly  excited  in  favor  of  him 
whom  he  now  discovered  to  be  the  brother  of  his  guide,  that  he  saw  him  spring 
fiercely  to  the  attack  of  his  gigantic  opponent.  There  was  an  activity  about 
the  young  chief  amply  commensurate  with  the  great  physical  power  of  his  ad- 
versary ;  while  the  manner  in  which  he  wielded  his  tomahawk,  proved  him  to 
be  anything  but  the  novice  in  the  use  of  the  formidable  weapon  the  other  had 
represented  him.  It  was  with  a  feeling  of  disappointment,  therefore,  which 
the  peculiarity  of  his  own  position  could  not  overcome,  he  saw  Ponteac  inter- 
pose himself  between  the  parties. 

Presently,  however,  a  subject  of  deeper  and  more  absorbing  interest  than 
even  the  fate  of  his  unhappy  follower  engrossed  every  faculty  of  liis  mind,  and 
riveted  both  eye  and  ear  in  painful  tension  to  the  aperture  in  his  hiding-place. 
The  chiefs  had  resumed  their  places,  and  the  silence  of  a  few  minutes  had  suc- 
ceeded to  the  fierce  affray  of  the  warrior.^when  Ponteac,  in  a  calm  and  delibe- 
rate voice,  proceeded  to  state  he  had  summoned  all  the  heads  of  the  nations 
together,  to  hear  a  plan  he  had  to  offer  for  the  reduction  of  the  last  remaining 
forts  of  their  enemies,  Michilimackinac  and  Detroit.  He  pointed  out  the 
tediousness  of  the  warfare  in  which  they  were  engaged  ;  the  desertion  of  their 
hunting-grounds  by  then-  warriors;  and  their  consequent  deficiency  in  all 
those  articles  of  European  traflic  which  they  were  formerly  in  the  habit  of  re- 
ceiving in  exchange  for  their  furs.  He  dwelt  on  the  beneficial  results  that 
would  accrue  to  them  all  in  the  event  of  the  reduction  of  those  two  important 
fortresses ;  since,  in  that  case,  they  would  be  enabled  to  make  such  terms 
with  the  English  as  would  secure  to  them  considerable  advantages ;  while,  in- 
stead of  being  treated  with  the  indignity  of  a  conquered  people,  they  would  be 
enabled  to  command  respect  from  the  imposing  attitude  this  final  crowning  of 
their  successes  would  enable  them  to  assume.  He  stated  that  the  prudence 
and  vigilance  of  the  commanders  of  these  two  unreduced  fortresses  were  likely 
long  to  baflSe,  as  had  hitherto  been  the  case,  every  open  attempt  at  their  cap- 
ture ;  and  admitted  he  had  little  expectation  of  terrifyin_g  them  into  a  surren- 
der by  the  same  artifice  that  had  succeeded  with  the  forts  on  the  Ohio  and 
the  lower  lakes.  The  plan,  however,  which  he  had  to  propose,  was  one  he 
felt  assured  would  be  attended  with  success.  He  would  disclose  that  plan, 
and  the  great  chiefs  should  give  it  the  advantage  of  their  deliberation. 

Captain  de  Haldimar  was  on  the  rack.  The  chief  had  gradually  dropped 
his  voice  as  he  explained  his  plan,  until  at  length  it  became  so  low,  that  un- 
di.stinguishable  sounds  alone  reached  the  ear  of  the  excited  officer.  For  a  mo- 
ment he  dispaircd  of  making  himself  fully  master  of  the  important  secret ;  but 
in  the  course  of  the  delibenitiou  that  ensued,  the  blanks  left  unsupplied  in  the 
discourse  of  the  leader  were  abundantly  filled  up.   It  was  what  the  reader  has 


106 


\V'  A  C-  O  IT  S  T  A  ;       OR,      THE      PROPHECY 


ali'dady  $oen.  The  necessities  of  the  Indians  were  to  be  -argcu  as  a  motive  for 
their  hehrj;  tired  of  liostilities.  '  A  peace  Avas  to  be  soiicited ;  a  councii  held ; 
a  ball-pla^ying-  among  the  warriors  proposed,  as  a  mark  of  their  own  sincerity 
and  confidence  durin;^  that  council ;  and  when  the  ijarrison,  luiled  into  secu- 
rity, should  bo  thi'0\\-n  entirely  off  their  guard,  the  wai'riors  were  to  seize  their 
guns  and  tomahawks,  with,  which  (thorfonner  cut  short,  for  the  better  con- 
cealment of  their  piu-jjose)  their  women  would  be  pi-ovided,  rush  in,  under 
pretext  of  regaining  their  lost  ball,  when  a  universal  massacre  of  men,  women, 
and  children  vras  to  ensue,  until  nothing  wearing  the  garb  of  a  Sagunaw  should 
be  left. 

It  would  be  tedious  to  fo'low  the  chief  through  all  the  minor  ramiiications 
of  his  subtle  plan.  Suffice  it  they  v.'ere  of  a  nature  to  throw  the  most  wary 
ofi'  his  guard ;  and  so  admirably  arranged  was  every  part,  so  certain  did  it 
appear  their  enemies  must  fall  into  the  snare,  that  the  oldest  chiefs  testified 
their  approbation  with  a  vivacity  of  manner  and  expression  little  wont  to 
characterise  the  deliberative  meethigs  of  these  reserved  people.  But  deepest 
of  all  vras  the  approval  of  tlie  tall  warrior  who  had  so  recently  arrived.  To 
him  had  the  discourse  of  the  leader  been  principally  directed,  as  one  whose 
counsel  and  experience  were  especially  wanting  to  confirm  him  in  his  pin-pose. 
He  was  the  last  who  spoke  ;  but,  when  he  did,  it  was  with  a  force — an  energy 
— that  must  have  sunk  every  objection,  even  if  the  plan  had  not  been  so  per- 
fect and  unexceptionable  in  its  concoction  as  to  have  precluded  a  possibility 
of  all  negative  argument.  During  the  delivery  of  his  animated  speech,  his 
swarthy  countenance  kindled  into  fierce  and  rapidly  varying  expression.  A 
thousand  dark  and  complicated  passions  evidently  struggled  at  his  heart ;  and 
as  he  dwelt  leisurely  and  empliatically  on  the  sacrifice  of  human  life  that 
must  inevitably  attend  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  measure,  his  eye  grew 
larger,  his  chest  expanded,  nay,  his  very  nostril  appeared  to  dilate  with  un- 
fathomably  guileful  exultation.  Captain  de  Haldimar  thought  he  had  never 
gazed  on  anything,  Avearihg  the  Imman  shape,  half  so  atrociously  savage. 

Long  before  the  coimcii  was  terminated,  the  inferior  warriors,  who  had 
been  so  suddenly  aroused  from  their  suuBbering  attitudes,  had  again  retired 
to  their  tents,  and  stretched  their  lazy  length  before  the  embers  of  their  fires. 
The  weary  chiefs  now  prepared  to  follow  their  example.  They  emptied  the 
ashes  from  the  bowls  of  their  pipe-tomahawks,  replaced  them  carefully  at 
their  side,  rose,  and  retired  to  their  respective  tents.  Ponteac  and  the  tall 
warrior  alone  remained.  For  a  time  they  conversed  earnestly  together.  The 
former  listened  attentively  to  some  observations  made  to  him  by  his  com- 
panion, in  the  course  df  which,  the  words  "  chief  of  the  Saganav/ — fort — spy 
— enemy,"  and-  two  or  thre:;  others  equally  unconnected,  were  alone  audible 
to  the  air  of  him  who  so  attentively  sought  to  catch  the  slightest  sound.  He 
then  tlirust  his  hand  under  his  hunting-coat,  and,  as  if  in  confirmation  of 
wliat  he  had  been  stating,  exhibited  a  coil  of  rope  and  the  glossy  boot  of  an 
English  officer.  Ponteac  uttered  one  of  liis  sharp  ejaculating  '•  iigiis  !"  and 
then  rising  quickly  from  his  seat,  followed  by  his  companion,  soon  disappeared 
in  the  heart  of  the  encampment. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

How  shall  wc  attempt  to  paint  all  that  passed  through  the  mind  of  Cap- 
tain de  Haldimar  dm-ing  this  important  conference  of  the  fierce  chiefs  ? — 
where  find  language  to  convey  the  cold  and  thrilling  horror  with  which  he 
listened  to  the  calm  discussion  of  a  plan,  the  object  of  which  was  the  massa- 
cre, not  onlv  of  a  h.ost  of  beings  cndcnred  to  him  by  long  communionship  of 
service,  l)nt  o?  tliose  who  were" wedded  to  his  heart  by  the  dearer  ties  of  af- 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      107 

I'ectiou  and  kindred  ?  Ar.  Ponteao  had  justly  observed,  the  English  p-arrisons, 
strong-  in  their  own  detbnco.-;.  \Terc  little  lilcely  to  be  speedily  reduced,  A\'hile 
their  enemies  confined  thoms?lvcs  to  overt  acts  of  hostility ;  but,  against  their 
insidious  pi-ofessions  of  n,u\ity  who  could  oppose  a  suiiieient  caution  ?  His 
iather,  the  young  oilicer  wvs  aware,  had  all  along  manifested  a  spirit  of  con- 
cilianon  tou-ards  the  Indians,  which,  if  followed  up  by  the  government  gene- 
rally, must  have  had  the  eflect  of  preventing  the  cruel  and  sanguinary  war 
that  had  so  recently  desolated  this  remote  part  of  the  British  possessions. 
How  likely,  therefore,  was  it,  having  his  object  always  in  view,  he  should  give 
in  to  the  present  wily  strata?:;:em,  where  such  plausible  motives  for  the  aban- 
donment of  thoir  hosiile  purpose  were  urged  by  the  pej-fidious  chiefs  !  From 
the  few  hasty  hints  alrca'ly  given  hini  by  his  guide, — that  kind  being,  who 
evidentlj-  sought  to  be  the  savior  of  the  devoted  garrison. — he  had  gathered 
that  a  deep  and  artful  plan  was  to  be  submitted  to  the  chiefs  by  their  leader ; 
but  little  did  he  imagine  it  was  of  the  finished  nature  it  now  proved  to  be. 
Any  other  than  the  present  attempt,  the  vigilance  and  prudence  of  his  expe- 
rienced ftither,  he  felt,  would  have  rendered  abortive ;  but  there  was  so  much 
speciousness  in  the  pleas  that  were  to  be  advanced  in  furtherance  of  their  as- 
sumed object,  he  could  not  but  admit  the  almost  certainty  of  their  influence, 
even  on  him. 

Sick  and  discouraged  as  he  was  at  the  horrible  perspective  thus  forced  on 
his  mental  view,  the  young  officer  had  not,  for  some  moments,  presence  of 
mind  to  reflect  that  the  dang-er  of  the  garrison  existed  only  so  long  as  he 
should  be  absent  from  it.  At  length,  however,  the  cheering  recollection  came, 
and  with  it  the  mantling  rush  of  blood,  to  his  faint  lieart.  But,  short  was 
the  con.^oling  hope :  again  lie  felt  dismay  in  every  fibre  of  his  frame  ;  for  he 
now  rcrlected,  that  although  his  opportune  discovery  of  the  meditated  scheme 
would  save  one  fort,  there  v.^as  no  guardian  angel  to  extend,  as  in  this  in- 
stance, its  protecting  influence  to  the  other  ;  and  within  that  other  there 
breathed  those  who  were  dearer  far  to  him  than  his  own  existence  ; — beings, 
whose  lives  were  far  more  precious  to  him  than  any  even  in  the  garrison  of 
which  he  was  a  member.  His  sister  Clara,  whom  he  loved  with  a  love  little 
inferior  to  that  of  his  younger  brother ;  and  one,  even  more  dearly  loved  than 
Clara, — Madeline  de  Haklirnar,  his  cousin  and  affianced  bride. — were  both  in- 
mates of  Michillimackinac,  which  was  commanded  by  the  fjither  of  the  latter, 

a  major  in  the regiment.     With  Madeline  de  Haldimar  he  had  long  since 

exchanged  his  vows  of  atiection ;  and  their  nuptials,  which  were  to  have  taken 
place  about  the  i)eriod  when  the  present  war  broke  out,  had  only  been  sus- 
pended because  all  communication  between  the  two  posts  had  been  entirely 
cut  off  by  the  enemy. 

Captain  de  Haldimar  had  none  of  the  natu];al  weakness  and  timiditj-^  of 
character  which  belonged  to  the  gentler  and  more  sensitive  Charles.  San- 
guine and  fuii  of  enterprise,  he  seldom  met  evils  half  way;  but  when  they 
did  come,  he  sought  to  master  them  by  the  firmness  and  collectedness  w^ith 
which  he  opposed  his  mind  to  their  infliction.  If  his  heart  was  now  racked 
with  the  most  acute  suffering — his  reason  incapacitated  from  exercising  its 
calm  deliberate  power,  the  seeming  contradiction  arose  not  from  any  deficiency 
in  his  character,  but  was  attributable  wholly  to  the  extraordinary  circum- 
stances of  tiie  moment. 

It  wiis  a  part  of  the  profound  plan  of  the  Ottawa  chief,  that  it  should  be 
essayed  on  the  two  forts  on  the  same  day ;  and  it  was  a  suggestion  of  the 
murderer  of  poor  Doneilan.  that  a  parley  should  be  obtained,  through  the 
medium  of  a  white  flag,  the  nature  of  which  he  explained  to  them,  as  it  was 
understood  atnong  their  enemies.  If  invited  to  the  coimcil,  then  they  were 
to  enter,  or  not,  as  circumstances  might  induce  ;  but,  in  any  ca,se,  they  were 
to  go  unprovided  v.dth  the  pipe  of  peace,  since  this  could  not  be  smoked  with- 
out violating  everytliing  held  most  sacred  among  themselves.  The  red,  or 
war  pipe,  was  to  be  substituted  as  if  by  accident ;  and,  for  the  success  of  the 


108      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

deception,  they  were  to  presume  on  the  ignorance  of  tlieir  enemies.  This, 
however,  was  not  important,  since  the  period  of  their  first  parley  was  to  be 
the  moment  chosen  for  the  arrangement  of  a  future  council,  and  the  proposal 
of  a  ball-playing  upon  the  common.  Three  days  were  to  be  named  as  the  in- 
terval between  the  first  conference  of  Ponteac  with  the  governor  and  the  de- 
finitive council  which  was  to  ensue  ;  during  which,  however,  it  was  so  ar- 
ranged, that  befoi-e  the  lip  of  a  red  skin  should  touch  the  pipe  of  peace,  the 
ball-players  should  rush  in  and  massacre  the  inipreparcd  soldiery,  while  the 
chiefs  despatched  the  officers  in  council. 

It  was  the  proximity  of  the  period  allotted  for  the  execution  of  their  cruel 
scheme  that  mainly  contributed  to  the  dismay  of  Captain  de  Ilaldimar.  The 
very  next  day  was  appointed  for  carrying  into  effect  the  fii'st  part  of  the  In- 
dian plan  :  and  how  was  it  possil)le  that  a  messenger,  even  admitting  he 
should  elude  the  vigilance  of  the  enemy,  could  reach  the  distant  post  of  Mich- 
ilimackinac  within  the  short  period  on  which  hung  the  destiny  of  that  devoted 
fortress.  In  the  midst  of  the  confused  and  distracting  images  that  now 
crowded  on  his  brain,  came  at  length  one  thought,  redolent  with  the  bright- 
est colorings  of  hope.  On  his  return  to  the  garrison,  the  treachery  of  the 
Indians  being  made  known,  the  governor  might  so  far,  and  with  a  view  of 
gaining  time,  give  in  to  the  plan  of  his  enemies,  as  to  obtain  such  delay  as 
would  afford  the  chance  of  communication  between  the  forts.  The  attempt, 
on  the  part  of  those  who  should  be  selected  for  this  purpose,  would,  it  is  true, 
be  a  desperate  one  :  still  it  must  be  made  ;  and  with  such  incentives  to  exer- 
tion as  he  had,  how  wiUingly  would  he  propose  his  own  services  ! 

The  more  he  dwelt  on  this  mode  of  defeating  the  subtle  designs  of  the  ene- 
mj^,  the  more  practicable  did  it  appear.  Of  his  own  safe  return  to  the  fort  he 
entertained  not  a  doubt ;  for.  he  knew  and  relied  on  the  Indian  woman,  who 
was  bound  to  him  by  a  tie  of  gratitude,  which  her  conduct  that  night  evi- 
dently denoted  to  be  superior  even  to  the  interests  of  her  race.  Moreover,  as 
he  approached  the  encampment  unnoticed  while  the  chiefs  were  yet  awake  to 
everything  around  them,  how  little  probability  was  there  of  his  return  being- 
detected  while  all  lay  in  the  most  profound  repose.  It  is  true  that,  for  a  mo- 
ment, his  confidence  deserted  him  as  he  recurred  to  the  earnest  dialogue  of 
the  two  Indians,  and  the  sudden  display  of  the  rope  and  boot,  the  latter  of 
which  articles  he  had  at  once  recognised  to  bt  one  of  those  he  had  so  recently 
worn  ;  but  his  apprehensions  on  that  score  were  again  speedily  set  to  rest, 
when  he  reflected,  had  an}^  suspicion  existed  in  the  minds  of  these  men  that 
an  enemy  was  lurking  near  them,  a  general  alarm  would  have  been  spread, 
and  hundreds  of  warriors  despatched  to  scour  the  forest. 

The  night  was  now  rapidly  waning  away,  and  already  the  cold  damp  air 
of  an  autumnal  morning  was.  beginning  to  make  itself  felt.  Moi:e  than  half 
an  hour  had  elapsed  since  the  departure  of  Ponteac  and  his  companion,  and 
yet  Oucanasta  came  not.  With  a  sense  of  the  approach  of  day  came  new 
and  discouraging  thoughts,  and,  for  some  minutes,  the  mind  of  the  young 
officer  became  petrified  with  horror,  as  he  reflected  on  the  bare  possibility  of 
his  escape  being  intercepted.  The  more  he  lingered  on  this  apprehension,  the 
more  bewildered  were  his  ideas  ;  and  already  in  horrible  perspective,  he  be- 
held the  destruction  of  his  nearest  and  dearest  friends,  and  the  host  of  those 
who  were  humbler  followers  and  partakers  in  the  same  destiny.  Absolutelj^ 
terrified  with  the  misgivings  of  his  own  heart,  lie,  in  the  wildness  and  uncon- 
nectedness  of  his  purpose,  now  resolved  to  make  the  attempt  to  return  alone, 
although  he  knew  not  even  the  situation  of  the  path  he  had  so  recently 
quitted.  lie  had  actually  moved  a  pace  forward  on  his  desperate  enterprise, 
when  he  felt  a  hand  touching  the  extended  arm  with  which  he  groped  to  find 
the  entrance  to  his  hiding  place.  The  unexpected  collision  sent  a  cold  shud- 
der through  his  frame  ;  and  such  was  the  excitement  to  which  he  had  worked 
himself  up,  it  was  not  without  difficidty  he  suppressed  an  exclamation,  that 


wacousta;  oii,  the  prophecy.      109 

must  inevitably  liavc  scaled  liis  doom.  The  soft  tone  of  Oucanasta's  voice 
re-ai;surcd  him. 

••  The  day  vrill  soon  dawn,"  she  whispered  ;  "  the  Saganaw  must  go." 

With  the  return  of  hope  came  the  sense  of  all  he  owed  to  the  devotedness 
of  this  kind  woman.  He  grasped  the  liand  that  still  lingered  on  his  arm, 
pressed  it  affectionately  in  his  own.  and  then  placed  it  in  silence  on  his  tlirob- 
bmg  heart.  The  breathing  of  Oucanasta  became  deeper,  and  the  young  offi- 
cer fancied  he  could  feel  her  trembling  with  agitation.  Again,  however,  and 
in  a  tone  of  more  subdued  expression,  she  whispered  that  he  must  go. 

There  was  little  urging  uecessar}'  to  induce  a  prompt  compliance  with  the 
hint.  Cautiously  emerging  from  his  concealment,  Captain  de  Ilaldimar  now 
followed  close  in  the  rear  of  his  guide,  who  took  the  same  circuit  of  the  for- 
est to  reach  the  path  that  led  towards  the  fort.  This  they  speedily  gained, 
and  then  pursued  their  course  in  silence,  until  they  at  length  arrived  at  the 
log  where  the  exchange  of  mocassins  had  been  made. 

"  Here  the  Saganaw  may  take  breath,"  she  observed,  as  she  seated  herself 
on  the  fallen  tree ;  "  the  sleep  of  the  red  skin  is  sound,  and  there  is  no  one 
upon  the  path  but  Oucanasta." 

Anxious  as  he  felt  to  secure  his  return  to  the  fort,  there  was  an  implied  so- 
licitation in  tlic  tones  of  her  to  whom  he  owed  so  much  that  prevented  Cap- 
tain de  Haldimav  from  oitcring  an  objection,  which  he  feared  might  be  con- 
strued into  sliL'ht. 

For  a  moment  or  two  the  Indian  remained  with  her  arms  folded,  and  her 
head  bent  over  her  c!\est ;  and  then,  in  a  low.  deep,  but  tremulous  voice,  ob- 
served,— 

'•  AVheu  the  Saganaw  saved  Oucanasta  from  perishing  in  the  angry  waters, 
there  was  a  girl  of  the  pale  faces  with  him.  ■s\-hose  skin  was  like  the  snows  of 
the  Canadian  winter,  and  whose  hair  was  black  like  the  fur  of  the  squirrel. 
Oucanasta  saw,"  she  pursued,  dropping  her  voice  yet  lower,  "  that  the  Saga- 
naw was  loved  by  the  pale  girl,  and  her  own  heart  was  very  sick,  for  the 
Saganaw  had  saved  her  life,  and  she  loved  him  too.  But  she  knew  she  was 
very  foolish,  and  that  an  Indian  girl  could  never  be  the  wife  of  a  handsome 
chief  of  the  Saganaw ;  and  she  prayed  to  the  Great  Spirit  of  the  red  skins  to 
give  her  strength  to  overcome  her  feelings  ;  but  the  Great  Spirit  wa,s  angry 
with  her,  and  would  not  hear  her."  She  paused  a  moment,  and  then  abruptly 
demanded,  "  "Where  is  that  pale  girl  now?" 

Captain  de  Haldimar  had  often  been  rallied,  not  only  by  his  brother  offi- 
cers, but  even  by  his  sister  and  Madeline  de  Haldimar  heVself,  on  the  conquest 
he  had  evidently  made  of  the  heart  of  this  Indian  girl.  The  event  to  which 
she  had  alluded  had  taken  place  several  months  ^jrevious  to  the  breaking  out 
of  hostilities.  Oucanasta  was  directing  her  frail  bark,  one  evening,  along  the 
shores  of  the  Detroit,  when  a  gust  of  wind  upset  the  canoe,  and  left  its  pilot 
struggling  amid  the  waves.  Captain  de  Haldimar.  who  happened  to  be  on 
the  bank  at  the  moment  with  his  sister  and  cousin,  was  an  eye-witness  of  her 
danger,  and  instantly  flew  down  the  steep  to  her  assistance.  Being  an  excel- 
lent swimmer,  he  was  not  long  in  gaining  the  spot,  where,  exhausted  with  the 
exertion  she  had  made,  and  eucuini»ered  with  her  awkward  machecoti,  the 
poor  girl  was  already  on  the  point  of  perishing.  But  for  his  timely  assist- 
ance, indeed,  .she  must  have  sunk  to  the  bottom  ;  and  since  that  period,  the 
gi-ateful  being  had  been  remarked  for  the  strong  but  unexpressed  attachment 
she  felt  for  her  deliverer.  This,  however,  was  the  first  moment  Captain  de 
Haldimar  became  acquainted  with  the  extent  of  feelings,  the  avowal  of  which 
not  a  little  startled  and  surprised,  and  even  annoyed  him.  The  last  question, 
however,  suggested  a  thought  that  kindled  every  fibre  of  his  being  into  ex- 
pectancy,— Oucanasta  might  be  the  savior  of  those  he  loved  ;  and  he  felt  that 
if  time  were  but  afforded  her,  she  would.  He  ro.sc  from  the  log,  dropped  on 
one  knee  before  the  Indian,  seized  both  her  hands  with  eagerness,  and  then 
in  tones  of  earnest  supplication  whispered. — 


110  W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,      THE      PROPHECY. 

''  Oiicaimsta  is  right:  the  pale  girl  with  the  skin  like  snou-,  and  hair  like 
the  fur  of  the  squirrel,  is  the  bride  of  the  Sagana^y.  Long  before  he  saved 
the  life  of  Oueanasta,  he  kne^y  and  loved  that  pale  girl.  She  is  dearer  to  the 
Sag'anav,'-  than  his  own  blood  ;  but  she  is  in  the  fort  beyond  the  great  lake, 
and  the  tomahawks  of  the  red  skins  v.'ill  destroj'  her ;  for  the  vrra-riors  of  that 
fort  'i.avo  no  one  to  tell  them  of  their  danger.  What  says  the  red  girl  1  will 
she  go  and  save  the  lives  of  the  sister  and  the  wife  of  the  Saganaw  ?" 

Tlie  breathing  of  the  Indiaii  became  deeper;  and  Captain  de  Haldimar  fan- 
cied she  sighed  heavily,  as  she  replied, — 

"  Oueanasta  is  but  a  weak  woman,  and  her  feet  are  not  swift  like  those  of 
a  runner  among  the  red  skins  ;  but  what  the  Saganaw  asks,  for  his  sake  she 
will  try.  When  she  h%s  seen  him  safe  to  his  own  fort,  she  vnll  go  and  pre- 
pare herself  for  the  journey.  The  pale  girl  shall  lay  her  head  on  the  bosom 
of  the  Saganaw,  and  OiuvuvistM  viil  try  to  rejoice  in  her  Imppincss." 

In  the  fervor  of  his  gr:  yoinig  officer  caught  the  drooping  form 

of  the  generous  Indian  \v  '!e::rt ;  his  lips  pressed  hers,  and  during 

the  kiss  that  f^''n-"^-    "':  '   -'er  bounded  and  throbbed  as  if  it 

would  have  V        ';  :  -i-om  of  her  companion. 

I>iever  vra  ■  .    ';.:,■..;;>     ,,  .      ,  ^uichaste.     Gratitude,  not  passion, 

had  called  il  ibrLh  ;  an.i  had  .Madeline  de  iJaldiniar  been  near  at  the  moment, 
the  feeling  that  impelled  the  seeming  infidelity  to  herself  v.'ould  have  been  re- 
garded as  an  additional  claim  on  her  affection.  On  the  whole,  however,  it 
was  a  most  unfortuntite  and  ill-tiraed  kiss,  and,  as  is  often  the  case  under  such 
circumstances,  led  to  the  downfall  of  the  woman.  In  the  vivacity  of  his  cm- 
brace,  Captain  'le  Haldimar  had  drawn  his  guide  so  far  forward  upon  the  log, 
that  she  iosi  1;  r  ^'lirice.  and  fell  wdth  a  heavy  and  I'everberating  crash  among 
the  leaves  hik'  ir.-icil  siieks  that  were  strewed  thickly  around. 

Scaieely  a  second  elapsed  when  the  forest  was  alive  with  human  yells,  that 
fell  ;icai.igh' on  the  ears  of  both;  and  bounding  warriors  wore  heard  on 
cycvy  liaiiti,  rapidly  dividing  the  dense  underwood  they  encountered  in  their 
pursuit.  Quick  as  thought  the  Indian  had  regained  her  feet.  She  grasped 
the  ii.ind  of  her  companion ;  and  hurrying,  thoiagh  not  without  caution, 
along  the  path,  again  stood  on  the  brow  of  the  ravine  through  which  the}^ 
had  previously  passed. 

■■  The  Saganaw  must  go  alone,  she  whispered.  "  'Jilie  rod  skins  arc  close 
upon  our  trail,  but  they  will  find  only  an  Indian  woman  when  they  expect 
a  pale  face.     Oueanasta  will  save  her  friend." 

Ca.ptain  de  Haldimar  did  as  he  was  desired.  Clinging  to  the  bushes  that 
lined  the  face  of  the  precipitous  descent,  he  managed  once  more  to  gain  the 
bed  of  the  ravine.  For  a  moment  he  paused  to  listen  to  the  sounds  of  his 
pursuers,  whose  footsteps  were  now  audible  on  the  eminence  he  had  just 
quitted  ;  and  then,  gathei-ing  himself  up  for  the  leap  that  was  to  enable  him 
to  clear  the  rivulet,  he  threw  himself  heavilj^  forward.  His  feet  alighted  upon 
an  elevated  and  yielding  substance,  that  gave  way  with  a  crashing  sound  that 
echoed  fir  and  near  throughout  the  forest,  and  he  felt  himself  secured  as  if  in 
a  trap.  Although  despairing  of  escape,  he  groped  with  his  hands  to  discover 
what  it  was  that  thus  detained  him,  and  found  he  had  fallen  through  a  bark 
canoe,  the  bottom  of  which  had  been  turned  upwards.  The  heart  of  the  fu- 
gitive now  sank  within  him  :  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  his  retreat  was  in- 
tercepted. The  canoe  had  been  placed  there  since  he  last  passed  through  the 
ravine  :  and  it  was  evident  from  the  close  and  triumphant  yell  that  followed 
the  rending  of  the  frail  bark,  such  a  result  had  been  anticipated. 

Stunned  as  he  was  by  the  terrific  cries  of  the  savages,  and  confused  as  were 
his  ideas,  Captain  de  Haldimar  had  still  presence  of  mind  to  }>crceive  the  path 
itself  oiiered  Idiu  no  further  security.  He  therefore  quitted  it  altogether,  and 
struck,  hi  an  oblique  direction,,  up  the  opposite  face  of  the  ravine.  Scarcely- 
had  he  gone  twenty  yards,  v.'hcn'l'.e  heard  the  voices  of  several  Indians  con- 
versing earnestly  near  the  canoe  ho  had  just  quitted ;  and  presently  afterwards 


\V  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     T  U  K     IMl  0  1'  II  £  f  Y  .  Ill 

lie  coitlii  distinc.tiy  hear  tUoin  ascenilTi^i;  Ihc  opposiie  brow  of  the  vavijif  by 
the  p;ith  ho  hivl  roccntiy  coiigr;i.Uilatetl  liimself  on  having  abandoned.  To  ad- 
vance or  to  recede  was  now  eqnjilly  impracticable  :  for,  on  everj'-  side,  he  wiis 
be.^irt  by  enenui.'.-;,  into  whose  lumds  a  single  false  step  must  inevitably  betray 
him.  What  would  he  not  have  j^iven  for  the  presence  of  Oucanasta,  who  was 
•so  capable  of  advising  him  in  this  diiiicultyl  but,  from  the  moment  9f  liis  de- 
scending into  the  ravine,  he  had  utterly  lost  sight  of  her. 

The  spot  on  \\'hicix  he  now  rested  was  covered  with  thick  brushwood,  closely- 
interwoven  at  their  tops,  but  affording  sufficient  space  beneath  for  a  temporary 
close  concealment ;  so  that,  unless  some  Indian  should  touch  him  v/ith  his 
foot,  there  was  little  seeming  probability  of  his  being  discovered  by  the  eye. 
Under  this  he  crept,  and  lay,  breathless  and  motionless,  v/itli  his  head  raised 
from  the  ground,  and  his  ear  on  the  stretch  for  the  slightest  noise.  Fqr  several 
minutes  he  remained  in  this  position,  vainly  seeking  to  catch  the  sound  of  a 
voice,  or  the  fall  of  a  footstep ;  but  the  most  deathlike  silence  had  succeeded 
to  the  fierce  yoUings  that  had  so  recently  rent  the  forest.  At  times  he  fancied 
h'i  could  distinguish  faint  noises  in  the  direction  of  tlio  encampment ;  and  so 
certain  was  he  of  tliis.  he  at  length  came  to  th.e  conclusion  that  the  Indians, 
either  balfled  in  their  saarch,  had  relinquished  the  pursuit,  or,  having  encount- 
ered Oucanasta,  had  been  thrown  on  a  diircrent  scent.  His  first  intention  had 
been  to  lie  concealed  until  the  following  night,  when  the  warriors,  no  longer 
on  the  alert,  should  leave  the  path  once  more  open  to  him  ;  but  now  that  the 
conviction  of  their  return  was  strong  on  his  mind,  he  changed  his  determina- 
tion, resolving  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  to  the  fort  with  the  aid  of  the  ap- 
j)roaching  dawn.  With  this  view  he  pai-tiy  withdrew  his  body  from  beneath 
its  caiiop3'-  of  underwood  ;  but  scarcely  had  he  done  so,  when  a  hundred  tongues, 
like  the  baying  of  so  many  blood-hounds,  again  rent  the  air  with  their  wild 
cries,  which  seemed  to  rise  up  from  the  very  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  close_to 
the  appalled  ear  of  the  j'oung  officer. 

Scarcelj'^  conscious  of  what  he  did.  Captain  de  Ilaldimar  grasped  one  of  his 
pi-stols,  for  he  fancied  he  felt  the  hot  breathing  of  human  life  upon  his  cheek. 
With  a  sickly  sensation  of  fear,  he  turned  to  satisfy  himself  whether  it  was 
not  an  illusion  of  his  heated  iiiiagination.  What,  however,  was  his  dismay, 
when  he  beheld  bending  over  him  a  dark  and  heavy  form,  the  outline  of  which 
aione  was  distinguishable  in  the  deep  gloom  in  which  the  ravine  remained  en- 
veloped !  Desperation  "^s  in  the  heart  of  the  excited  officer  :  he  cocked  his 
pistol ;  but  scarcely  had  the  sharp  clicking  sound  floated  on  the  air,  when  he 
felt  a  powerful  hand  upon  his  chest ;  and,  with  as  much  facility  a,s  if  he  had 
been  a  child,  was  he  raised  by  that  invisible  hand  to  his  feet.  A  dozen  war- 
riors now  sprang  to  the  assistance  of  their  comrade,  when  the  whole,  having 
disarmed  and  bound  their  prisoner,  led  him  back  m  triumph  to  their  encamp- 
ment. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

The  fires  of  the  Indians  were  now  nearly  extinct ;  but  the  faint  light  of  the 
fast  dawning  day  threw  a  ghastly,  sickly,  hue  over  the  countenances  of  the 
savages,  which  i-endered  them  even  more  terrific  in  their  war  p:iint.  The 
chiefs  grouped  themselves  immediately  around  their  prisoner,  while  the  inferior 
warriors,  forming  an  outer  circle,  stood  leaning  their  dark  forms  upon  their 
rifles,  and  following,  with  keen  and  watchful  eye,  every  movement  of  their 
captive.  Hitherto  the  unfortunate  officer  had  been  too  much  engrossed  by 
his  despair  to  pay  any  immediate  attention  to  the  individual  who  had  first 
discovered  and  seized  hnn.  It  was  sufficient  for  him  to  know  all  hope  of  the 
safety  of  the  garrison  had  povishcd  with  his  captivity  ;  and,  with  that  reck- 


112 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy 


lessness  of  life  which  often  springs  from  the  very  consciousness  of  inabihty  to 
preserve  it,  he  now  sullenly  awaited  the  death  which  he  expected  at  each  mo- 
ment would  be  inflicted.  Suddenly  his  ear  was  startled  by  an  interrogatory, 
in  English,  from  one  who  stood  behind  him. 

With  a  movement  of  surprise,  Captain  de  Haldimar  turned  to  examine  his 
questioner.  It  was  the  dark  and  ferocious  warrior  who  had  exhibited  the 
scalp  of  his  ill-fated  servant.  For  a  moment  the  officer  fixed  his  eyes  firmly 
and  unshrinkingly  on  those  of  the  savage,  seeking  to  reconcile  the  contradic- 
tion that  existed  between  his  dress  and  featui-es  and  the  purity  of  the  English 
he  had  just  spoken.  The  other  saw  his  drift,  and,  impatient  of  the  scrutiny, 
again  repeated,  as  he  fiercely  pulled  the  strong  leathern  thong  by  which  the 
prisoner  now  found  himself  secured  to  his  girdle. — 

"  Who- and  what  are  you  ? — whence  come  you  ? — and  for  what  purpose  are 
you  here  ?"  Then,  as  if  struck  by  some  sudden  recollection,  he  laid^  his  hand 
upon  the  shoiilder  of  his  victim  ;  and,  while  his  eye  grew  upon  his  features, 
he  pursued;  in  a  tone  of  vehemence, — "  Ha  !  by  heaven,  I  should  know  that 
face  ! — the  cursed  lines  of  the  blood  of  De  Haklimar  are  stamped  upon  that 
brow  !  But  stay,  one  proof  and  I  am  satisfied."  While  he  yet  spoke  he  dashed 
the  menial  hat  of  his  captive  to  the  earth,  put  aside  his  hair,  and  then,  with 
fiendish  exultation,  pursued, — '■  It  is  even  so.  Do  you  recollect  the  battle  of 
the  plains  of  Abraham,  Captain  de  Haldimar  ?  Recollect  you  the  French 
officer  who  aimed  so  desperately  at  your  life,  and  whose  object  was  defeated 
by  a  soldier  of  3'our  regiment  ?  I  am  that  officer  ;  my  victim  escaped  me  then, 
but  not  for  ever.  The  hour  of  vengeance  is  now  nearly  arrived,  and  your 
capture  is  the  pledge  of  my  success.  Hark,  how  the  death-cry  of  all  his  Irated 
race  will  ring  in  madness  on  your  father's  ear  !" 

Amazement,  stupefaction,  and  horror,  filled  the  mind  of  the  wretched  officer 
at  this  extraordinary  declaration.  He  perfectly  recollected  that  the  individual 
who  had  evinced  so  much  personal  hostility  on  the  occa.sion  alluded  to,  was 
indeed  a  man  wearing  the  French  uniform,  although  at  the  head  of  a  l)and  of 
savages,  and  of  a  stature  and  strength  similar  to  those  of  him  who  now  so 
fiercely  avowed  himself  the  bitter  and  deadly  foe  of  all  his  race.  If  this  were 
so,  and  his  tone  and  language  left  little  room  for  doubt,  the  doom  of  the  ill- 
fated  garrison  was  indeed  irrevocablj-  sealed.  This  mysterious  enemy  evi- 
dentlj'  possessed  great  influence  in  the  councils  of  the  Indians  :  and  while  the 
hot  breath  of  his  hatred  continued  to  fan  the  flame  of  fierce  hostility  that  had 
been  kindled  in  the  bosom  of  Ponteac,  whose  particular  friend  he  appeared  to 
be,  there  would  be  no  end  to  the  atrocities  that  must  follow.  Great,  however, 
as  was  the  dismay  of  Captain  de  Haldimar,  who,  exhausted  with  the  adven- 
tures of  the  night,  presented  a  ghastly  image  of  anxiety  and  fatigue,  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  repress  the  feelings  of  indignation  with  which  the  lan- 
guage of  this  fierce  man  had  inspired  him. 

"  If  you  are  in  reality  a  French  officer,"  he  said,  "  and  not  an  Englishman 
as  your  accent  would  denote,  the  sentiments  you  have  now  avowed  may  well 
justify  the  belief,  that  3-ou  have  been  driven  with  ignominy  from  a  service 
which  your  presence  must  eternally  have  disgraced.  There  is  no  country  in 
Eurojx^  that  would  willingly  claim  j-ou  for  its  subject.  Nay,  even  the  savage 
race,  with  whom  j-ou  are  now  connected,  would,  if  apprised  of  your  true 
nature,  spurn  you  as  a  thing  unworthy  to  herd  even  with  their  Avolf-dogs," 

A  fierce  sardonic  laugh  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  warrior,  but  this  was  so 
mingled  with  rage  as  to  give  an  almost  devilish  expression  to  his  features. 

"  Ignominy — ignominy  !"  he  repeated,  while  his  right  hand  played  convul- 
sively with  the  handle  of  his  tomahav,'k  ;  •'  is  it  for  a  De  Haldimar  to  taunt 
me  with  ignominj-  ?  Fool !"  he  pursued,  after  a  momentary  pause,  ''you  have 
sealed  your  doom,"  Then  abruptly  quitting  the  handle  of  his  weapon,  he 
thrust  his  hand  into  his  bosom,  and  again  drawing  forth  the  reeking  .scalp  of 
Donellan,  he  dashed  it  furiously  in  the  face  of  his  prisoner.  "  Not  two  hours 
since,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  cheered  myself  with  the  thought  that  the  scalp  of  a 


wacousta;    or,    the    prophbcy.  113 

De  Haldimar  was  in  ray  ix)uch.  Now,  indeed,  do  I  glory  in  ray  mistake. 
The  torture  will  be  a  more  fitting  death  for  you." 

Had  an  arm  of  the  insulted  soldier  been  at  liberty,  the  offence  would  not 
have  gone  unavenged  even  there  ;  for  such  was  the  desperation  of  his  heart, 
that  he  felt  he  could  have  luigged  the  death  struggle  with  his  insolent  ca.ptor, 
notwiilistunding  the  fearful  odds,  nor  quitted  hnn  until  one  or  both  should 
have  paid  the  debt  of  fierce  enmity  with  life.  As  it  was  he  could  only  betray, 
by  his  H;u<hing  eye,  excited  look,  and  the  impatient  play  of  his  foot  upon  the 
ground,  the  deep  indignation  that  consumed  his  heart. 

The  tall  savage  exulted  in  the  mortification  he  had  awakened,  and  as  his 
eye  glanced  insolently  from  head  to  foot  along  his  enemy,  its  expression  told 
how  much  he  laughed  at  the  impotence  of  his  anger.  Suddenl}^,  however,  a 
change  p;xssed  over  his  features.  The  mocassin  of  the  officer  had  evidently 
atti-acted  his  attention,  and  he  now  demanded,  in  a  more  serious  and  impera- 
tive tone, — 

"  Ha  !  what  means  this  disguise?  Who  is  the  wretch  whom  I  have  slain, 
mistaking  him  for  a  nobler  victim  ;  and  how  comes  it  that  an  officer  of  the 
English  garrison  appears  here  in  the  garb  of  a  servant  ?  By  heaven,  it  is 
so !  you  are  come  as  a  spy  into  the  camp  ef  the  Indians  to  steal  away  the 
councils  of  the  chiefs.     Speak,  what  have  you  heard  ?" 

With  these  questions  retiu-ned  the  calm  and  self-possession  of  the  officer. 
He  at  once  saw  the  importance  of  his  answer,  on  which  hung  not  merely  his 
own  last  faint  chance  of  safety,  but  that  also  of  his  generous  deliverer.  Strug- 
gling to  subdue  the  disgust  wliich  he  felt  at  holding  converse  with  this  atrocious 
monster,  he  asked  in  turn, — 

'•  Am  I  then  the  only  one  whom  the  warriors  have  overtaken  in  their  pur- 
suit ?" 

"  There  was  a  woman,  the  sister  of  that  boy,"  and  he  pointed  contemptu- 
ousl)'-  to  the  young  chief  who  had  so  recently  assailed  him,  and  who  now,  in 
common  with  his  followers,  stood  impatiently  listening  to  a  colloquy  that  was 
unintelligible  to  all.  "  Speak  truly,  was  she  not  the  traitress  who  conducted 
you  here  ?" 

"  Had  you  found  me  here,"  returned  the  officer,  with  difficulty  repressing 
his  feelings.  "  there  might  have  been  some  ground  for  the  assertion  ;  but 
surely  the  councils  of  the  chiefs  could  not  be  overheard  at  the  distant  point  at 
which  you  discovered  me." 

"  Wh}^  then  were  you  there  in  this  disguise  ? — and  who  is  he/'  again  hold- 
ing up  the  bloody  scalp,  '•  whom  I  have  despoiled  of  this  ?" 

"  There  are  few  of  the  Ottawa  Indians,"  returned  Captain  de  Haldimar, 
"  who  are  ignorant  that  I  once  saved  that  young  woman's  life.  Is  it  then  so 
verj'  extraordinary  ail  attachment  should  have  been  the  consequence  ?  The 
man  whom  you  slew  was  my  servant.  I  had  brought  him  out  with  me  for 
protection  during  my  interview  with  the  woman,  and  I  exchanged  my  uniform 
with  him  for  the  same  purpose.  There  is,  no  thing  in  this,  however,  to  warrant 
the  supposition  of  my  being  a  spy." 

During  the  delivery  of  these  more  than  equivocal  sentences,  which,  how- 
ever, he  felt  were  fully  justified  by  circumstances,  the  young  officer  had  strug- 
gled to  appear  calm  and  confident ;  but,  despite  of  his  exertions,  his  con- 
sciousness caused  his  cheek  to  color,  and  his  eye  to  quail  beneath  the 
searching  glance  of  his  ferocious  enemy.  The  latter  thrust  his  hand  into  his 
chest,  and  slowly  drew  foi'th  the  rope  he  had  previously  exhibited  to  Ponteac. 

."  Do  you  think  me  a  fool,  Captain  de  Haldimar,"  he  observed  sneeringly, 
"'that  you  expect  so  paltry  a  tale  to  be  palmed  successfully  on  my  under- 
standing ?  An  English  officer  is  not  ver}'  likely  to  run  the  risk  of  breaking 
his  neck  by  having  recourse  to  such  a  means  of  exit  from  a  besieged  garrison, 
merely  to  intrigue  with  an  Indian  woman,  when  there  are  plenty  of  soldiers' 
wives  within,  and  that  too  at  an  hour  when  he  knows  the  scouts  of  his  ene- 


wacotista;    or,   the   prophecy.  114 

mies  are  prowling  in  the  neighborhood.  Capiain  de  Ilaldiinar,"  he  concluded, 
slowly  and  dehberately,  "  you  have  lied." 

Despite  of  the  last  insult,  his  prisoner  remained  calm.  The  very  obserr 
vation  that  had  just  been  made  afforded  him  a  final  hope  of  exculpation, 
which,  if  it  benefited  not  himself,  might  stUl  be  of  service  to  the  generous 
Oucanasta. 

'•  The  onus  of  such  language,"  he  observed  coolly  and  with  dignity,  "  falls 
not  on  him  to  whom  it  is  addressed,  but  on  him  who  utters  it.  Yet  one  who 
professes  to  have  been  himself  a  soldier,  must  see  in  this  very  circumstance  a 
proof  of  my  innocence.  Had  I  been  sent  out  as  a  spy  to  reconnoitre  the 
movements,  and  to  overhear  the  council  of  our  enemies,  the  gate  would  have 
been  open  for  my  egress  ;  but  that  roj^e  is  iu  itself  an  evidence  I  must  have 
stolen  forth  unknown  to  the  garrison." 

Whether  it  was  that  the  warrior  had  his  own  particular  reasons  for  attach- 
ing truth  to  this  statement,  or  that  he  merely  pretended  to  do  so,  Captain  de 
Haldimar  saw  with  secret  satisfaction  his  last  argument  v.'as  conclusive. 

'•  Well,  be  it  so,"  retorted  the  savage,  while  a  ferocious  smile  passed  over  his 
swarthy  features  ;  "  but,  whether  you  have  been  here  as  a  spy,  oi'  have  merely 
ventured  out  in  prosecution  of  an  intrigue,  it  matters  not.  Before  the  sun 
has  travelled  far  in  the  meridian  you  die ;  and  the  tomahawk  of  your  father's 
deadly  foe — of — of — of  Wacousta,  as  I  am  called,  shall  be  the  first  to  drink 
your  blood." 

The  officer  made  a  final  effort  at  mercy.  '•  Who  or  what  you  arc,  or  whence 
your  hatred  of  my  family.  I  know  not."  lie  s.u'l ;  ■'  Irat  surely  1  have  never 
injured  you  :  wherefore,  then,  this  insatiiiblc  thirst  for  my  blood  ?  If  you  are 
indeed  a  Christian  and  a  soldier,  let  your  heart  be  touched  with  humanity, 
and  procure  my  restoration  to  my  friends.  You  once  attempted  my  life  in 
honorable  combat,  why  not  wait,  then,  until  a  fitting  opportunity  shall  give 
not  a  bound  and  defenceless  victim  to  yoiu'  steel,  but  one  whose  resistance 
may  render  him  a  conquest  worthy  of  your  arm  V 

''  What !  and  be  balked  of  the  chance  of  my  just  revenge  ?  Hear  me,  Cap- 
tain de  Haldimar,"  he  pursued,  in  that  low,  quick,  deep  tone  that  told  all  the 
strong  excitement  of  his  heart : — "  I  have,  it  is  true,  no  particular  enmity  to 
yourself,  further  than  that  you  are  a  Ue  Haldimar  ;  but  hell  does  not  supply 
a  feeling  half  so  bitter  as  my  enmity  to  your  proud  father  :  and  months,  nay 
years,  have  I  passed  in  the  hope  of  such  an  hour  as  this.  For  this  I  have  for- 
sworn my  race  and  become — what  you  now  behold  me — a  savage  both  in 
garb  and  character.  But  this  matters  not,"  he  continued,  fiercely  and  impa- 
tiently, "  3'our  doom  is  sealed  ;  and  before  another  sun  has  risen,  your  stern 
father's  gaze  shall  be  blasted  with  the  sight  of  the  mangled  carcass  of  his  first 
born.  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !"  and  he  laughed  low  and  exultingly,  "  even  now  I  think 
I  see  him  withering,  if  heart  so  hard  can  wither,  beneath  this  proof  of  my 
imdying  hate.'' 

"  Fiend  ! — monster  ! — devil ! "  exclaimed  the  excited  officer,  now  losing  sight 
of  all  considerations  of  prudence  in  the  deep  horror  inspired  by  his  captor  : — 
"  Kill  me — tortm-e  me — commit  any  cruelty  on  me,  if  such  be  your  savage 
will ;  but  outrage  not  humanity  by  the  fulfilment  of  your  last  disgusting 
thi-eat.  Suffer  not  a  father's  heart  to  be  agonised — a  father's  eye  to  be 
blasted — with  a  view  of  the  mangled  remains  of  him  to  whom  he  has  given 
hfe." 

Again  the  savage  rudely  pulled  the  thong  that  bound  his  prisoner  to  his 
gii-dle,  and  removing  his  tomahawk  from  his  belt,  and  holding  its  sullied 
point  close  under  the  eye  of  the  former,  exclaimed,  as  he  bent  eagerly  over 
him, — 

"  See  you  this,  Captain  de  Haldimar  ?  At  the  still  hour  of  midnight,  while 
you  had  abandoned  your  guard  to  revel  in  the  arms  of  your  Indian  beauty, 
I  stole  into  the  fort  by  means  of  the  same  rope  that  you  had  used  in  quitting 
it.     Unseen  by  the  sentinels,  I  gained  your  father's  apartment.     It  was  the 


wacousta;or,    the    prophecy.  115 

first  time  we  had  met  for  twenty  years ;  and  T  do  believe,  that  had  tlie  veiy 
devil  himself  presented  himself  in  my  place,  he  would  have  been  received  with 
fewer  mai'ks  of  horror.  Oh,  how  that  proud  man's  eye  quailed  beneath  this 
glitterin::,-  blade  !  lie  attempted  to  call  out,  but  my  look  paralysed  his  tongue, 
and  cold  drops  of  sweat  stole  rapidly  down  his  brow  and  cheek.  Then  it  was 
tiiat  my  seare<l  heart  once  more  beat  with  the  intoxication  of  triumph.  Your 
father  was  alone  and  unarmed,  and  throughout  the  fort  not  a  sound  was  to  be 
licai'd,  save  the  distant  tread  of  the  sentinels.  I  could  have  laid  him  dead  at 
my  feet  at  a  single  blow,  and  yet  have  secured  my  retreat.  Eut  no,  that  was 
not  my  object.  I  came  to  taunt  him  with  the  promise  of  my  revenge — to  tell 
liim  tlie  hour  of  my  triumph  was  approaching  fast;  and,  ha!"  he  concluded, 
laughing  hideously  as  he  passed  his  "large  rude  hand  through  the  wavy  hair 
of  the  now  uncovered  officer,  "  this  is,  indeed,  a  fair  and  unexpected  first 
earnest  of  the  full  redemption  of  my  pledge.  No — no  !"  he  continued,  as  if 
talking  to  himself,  "  he  must  not  die.  Tantalus-like,  he  shall  have  death  ever 
.  apparently  within  his  grasp ;  but  until-  all  his  race  have  perished  before  his 
eyes,  lie  shall  not  attain  it." 

Hitherto  the  Indians  had  preserved  an  attitude  of  quiet,  listening  to  the 
inteiTOgatories  put  to  the  prisoner  with  that  wonder  and  cul'iosity  with  which 
a  savage  people  hear  a  language  different  from  their  own ;  and  marking  the 
several  emotions  that  were  elicited  in  the  course  of  the  animated  colloquy  of 
the  pale  faces.  Gnidually,  however,  they  became  impatient  under  its  dura- 
tion ;  and  many  of  them,  in  the  excitement  produced  by  the  fierce  manner 
of  him  who  was  called  TVacousta,  fixed  their  dark  eyes  upon  the  captive, 
while  they  grasped  the  handles  of  their  tomahawks,  as  if  thej''  would  hare 
disputed  with  the  fornier  the  privilege  of  dying  his  weapon  first  in  his  blood. 
When  they  saw  the  warrior  hold  up  his  menacing  blade  to  the  eye  of  his  vic- 
tim, wliile  he  passed  his  ha,nd  through  the  redundant  hair,  that  at  once  in- 
ferred the  sacrifice  was  about  to  be  completed,  and  rushing  furiouslj''  forward, 
they  bomided.  and  leaped,  and  yelled,  and  brandished  their  own  weapons  in 
the  most  appalling  manner. 

Already  had  the  unhappy  officer  given  himself  up  for  lost ;  fifty  bright 
tomahawks  were  playing  about  his  head  at  the  same  instant,  and.  death — 
that  death  which  is  never  Avithout  terror  to  the  young,  however  brave  they 
may  be  in  the  hour  of  generous  conflict — seemed  to  have  arrived  at  last.  He 
raised  his  eyes  to  heaven,  committing  his  soul  to  his  God  in  the  same  silent 
prayer  that  he  offered  up  for  the  preservation  of  his  friends  and  comrades ; 
and  then  bending  them  upon  the  eailh,  summoned  all  his  collectedness  and 
coiu-age  to  sustain  him  through  the  trial.  At  the  veiy  moment,  however, 
when  he  expected  to  feel  the  crashing  steel  within  Ifis  brain,  he  felt  himself 
again  violently  pulled  by  the  thong  that  secured  his  hands.  In  the  next  in- 
stant he  was  pressed  close  to  the  chest  of  his  vast  enemy,  who,  with  one  arm 
encircling  his  prisoner,  and  the  other  brandishing  his  fierce  blade  in  rapid 
evolutions  romid  his  head,  kept  the  yelling  band  at  bay,  with  the  evident  un- 
shaken determination  to  maintain  his  sole  and  acknowledged  right  to  the 
disposal  of  his  captive. 

For  several  moments  the  event  appeared  doubtful ;  but,  notwithstanding 
his  extreme  agility  in  the  use  of  a  weapon,  in  the  management  of  which  he 
evinced  all  the  dexterity  of  the  most  practised  native,  the  odds  were  fearfully 
against  Wacousta  ;  and  while  his  flashing  eye  and  swelling  chest  betrayed  his 
pur]K)sc  rather  to  perish  himself  than  suffer  the  infringement  of  his  claim,  it 
was  evident  that  numbers  must,  in  the  end.  prevail  against  him.  On  an  ap- 
peal to  Ponteac-,  however,  of  which  he  now  suddenly  bethought  himself,  the 
authority  of  the  latter  was  successfully  exerted,  and  he  was  again  left  in  the 
full  and  undisturbed  possession  of  his  prisoner. 

A  low  and  earnest  conversation  nov>"  ensued  among  the  clucfs,  in  which,  as 
before.  Wacousta  bore  a  principal  part.  When  this  was  terminated,  several 
Indians  approaclied  the  unhappy  officer,  and  unfastening  the  thong  with 


116  wacoosta;     or,    the    prophecy. 

which  his  hands  ^vere  firmly  and  even  painfully  girt,  deprived  him  both  of 
coat,  waistcoat  and  shirt.  He  was  then  bound  a  second  time  in  the  same 
manner,  his  body  besmeared  with  paint,  and  his  head  so  disguised  as  to  give 
him  the  caricature  semblance  of  Indian  warrior.  When  these  preparations 
were  completed,  he  M-as  led  to  the  tree  in  which  he  had  been  previously  con- 
cealed, and  thei-c  firmly  secured,  xileanwhile  Wacousta.  at  the  head  of  a  nu- 
rnerous  band  of  ^^'a^■iors.  had  departed  once  more  in  the  direction  of  the  fort. 

With  the  lisinp;  ot'  the  sun  now  vanished  all  traces  of  the  mist  that  had  fallen 
since  the  carl}"  houi-s  of  morning,  leaving-  the  unfortunate  officer  ample  leisirre 
to  survey  the  difficulties  of  his  position.  He  had  fancied,  from  the  course 
taken  b;,^  his  guide  the  previous  night,  that  the  plain  or  oasis,  as  we  have  else- 
where termed  it,  lay  in  the  very  heart  of  the  forest ;  but  that  route  nowprov 
«d  to  have  been  circuitous.  The  tree  to  which  he  was  bound  Avas  one  of  a 
slight  belt,  separating  the  encampment  from  the  open  grounds  which  extend- 
ed towards  the  river,  and  which  was  so  thin  and  scattered  on  that  side  as  to 
leave  the  clear  silver  waters  of  the  Detroit  visible  at  intervals.  Oh,  what 
would  he  not  have  given,  at  that  cheering  sight,  to  have  had  his  limbs  free, 
and  his  chance  of  life  staked  on  the  swiftness  of  his  flight !  While  he  had  im- 
agined himself  begij-t  by  interminable  forest,  he  felt  as  one  v.'hose  very  thought 
to  elude  those  who  wei-e  in,  some  degree,  the  deities  of  that  wild  scene,  must 
be  paralysed  in  its  first  conception.  But  here  was  the  vivifying  picture  of  ci- 
vilised nature.  Corn  fields,  although  trodden  down  and  destroyed — dwelling 
houses,  although  burnt  or  dilapidated — told  of  the  existence  of  those  who 
were  of  the  same  race  with  himself ;  and  notwithstanding  these  had  perished 
even  as  he  must  perish,  still  there  was  something  in  the  aspect  of  the  very 
Tuins  of  their  habitations  which,  contrasted  with  the  solemn  gloom  of  the 
forest,  carried  a  moinentary  and  indefinable  consolation  to  his  spirit.  Then 
there  was  the  ripe  and  teeming  orchard,  and  the  low  whitewashed  cabin  of  the 
Canadian  peasant,  to  whom  the  offices  of  charity,  and  the  duties  of  humanity, 
were  no  strangers ;  and  who,  also,  although  the  secret  enemies  of  his  country, 
had  no  motive  for  personal  hostility  towards  himself  Then,  on  the  river  itself, 
even  at  that  early  hour,  was  to  be  seen,  fastened  to  the  long  stake  driven  into 
its  bed,  or  secured  by  the  rude  anchor  of  stone  appended  to  a  cable  of  twisted 
bark,  the  light  canoe  or  clumsy  periagua  of  the  peasant  'fisherman,  who, 
ever  and  anon,  drew  up  from  its  deep  bosom  whatever  tenant  of  these  waters 
might  chance  to  affix  itself  to  the  traitorous  hook.  It  is  true  that  his  view 
of  these  objects  was  only  occasional  and  indistinct;  but  his  intimate  acquaiu-, 
tance  with  the  localities  beyond  brought  everything  before  Captain  de  Haldi-  , 
mar's  eye ;  and  even  while  he  sighed  to  think  they  were  for  ever  cut  ofl'  from 
his  reach,  he  alread}-,  in  idea,  followed  the  course  of  flight  he  should  pursue 
were  the  power  but  afforded  him. 

From  this  train  of  painful  and  exciting  thought  the  wretched  captive  was 
aroused,  by  a  faint  but  continued  yelling  in  a  distant  part  of  the  forest,  and  in 
the  direction  that  had  been  taken  by  Wacousta  and  his  warriors.  Then,  after 
a  short  interval,  came  the  loud  booming  of  the  cannon  of  the  fort,  carried  on 
with  a  spirit  and  promptitude  that  told  of  some  pressing  and  dangerous  em- 
ergency, and  fainter  aftei'wards  the  sharp  shrill  reports  of  the  rifles,  bearing 
evidence  the  savages  were  already  in  close  collision  with  the  garrison.  Va- 
rious were  the  conjectures  that  passed  rapidly  through  the  mind  of  the  young 
officer,  during  a  firing  that  had  called  almost  every  Indian  in  the  encampment 
away  to  the  scene  of  action,  save  the  two  or  three  young  Ottawas  who  had  been 
left  to  guard  his  own  person,  and  who  lay  upon  the  sward*  near  him,  with 
head  erect  aiid  ear  sharply  set,  listening  to  the  startling  sounds  of  conflict. 
What  the  motive  of  the  hurried  departure  of  the  Indians  was.  he  knew  not ; 
but  he  had  conjectured  the  object  of  the  fierce  Wacousta  was  to  possess  him- 
self of  the  uniform  in  which  his  wretched  servant  was  clothed,  that  no  mistake 
might  occur  in  his  identity,  when  its  true  owner  should  be  exhibited  in  it, 
within  view  of  the  fort,  mangled  and  disfigured,  in  the  manner  that  fierce  and 


vvacousta;  or,  thk  prophecy.      1  IT 

niyRtci-ious  man  ha/l  alrciidy  Uiieati'iH'd.  It  was  exccodiit^ly  iirobable  the 
body  of  Doncllan  had  been  mistaken  tor  his  ownj  and  tliat  in  th*i«;nxiety  of 
his  father  to  prevent  the  Indians  fi-oni  carryius  it  olt'  the  cannon  had  been 
directed  to  open  upon  them.  But  if  this  were  the  case,  how  were  the  reports 
of  the  rifles,  and  the  fierce  yelHngs  tiiat  continued,  save  at  intervals,  to  ring- 
throughout  the  forest  to  be  accounted  for?  The  Inillets  of  the  Indians  evi- 
dently could  not  reach  the  fort,  and  they  witc  Uu,  wiiy,  :i".(l  :i(h"hcd  too 
much  value  to  their  ammunition,  to  risk  a  shot  ihat  \v;is  11,1  rvid  ,n  nfcarry- 
ing  a  wound  with  it.  For  a  moment  the  fart  it-vl;  l\:<<'r  I  >■  i<,  ~  his  mind. 
and  he  attributed  the  fire  of  .small  arms  to  thi'  attiicl;  mil  1  r,  ii<\'  of  a  party 
that  had  been  .sent  out  for  the  purpose  of  seeming;  l\<r  !.■>  |\ .  supposed  to  be 
hLs  own  ;  yet,  if  so,  again  how  was  he  to  account  lor  liis  not  licaring  the  re- 
port Hif  a  .single  musket?  His  ear  was  too  well  practised  not  to  know  the 
sharp  crack  of  the  rifle  from  the  heavy  dull  discharge  of  the  musket,  and  as 
yet  the  former  only  had  been  distinguishable,  amid  the  intervals  that  ensued 
between  each  sullen  booming  of  the  cannon.  While  this  impi-cssion  continued 
on  the  mind  of  the  anxious  officer,  he  caught,  with  the  avidity  of  desperation, 
at  the  faint  and  implorable  idea  that  his  companions  mi;.',ht  be  able  to  pene- 
trate to  his  place  of  concealment,  and  procure  his  liberation ;  hut  when  he 
found  the  firing,  instead  of  drawing  nearer,  was  confined  to  the  same  spot, 
and  even  more  fiercely  kept  up  by  the  Indians  towards  the  close,  he  again 
gave  way  to  his  despair,  and  resigning  himself  to  his  fate,  no  longer  sought 
comfort  in  vain  speculation  as  to  its  cause.  His  ear  now  caught  the  report  of 
the  last  shell  as  it  exploded,  and  then  all  was  still  and  hushed,  as  if  what  he 
Iiad  so  recently  heard  was  but  a  di-eam. 

The  first  intimation  given  him  of  the  retui'n  of  the  savages  was  the  death 
howl,  set  up  by  the  women  within  the  encanipment.  Captain  de  Haldimar 
turned  his  eyes,  instinct  with  terror,  towards  the  scene,  and  beheld  the  war- 
riors slowly  issuing  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  forest  into  the  plain,  and 
bearing  in  silence  the  dead  and  stiffened  forms  of  those  who  had  been  cut 
down  by  the  destructive  fire  from  the  fort.  Their  mien  was  sullen  and  re- 
vengeful, and  more  than  one  dark  and  gleaming  eye  did  he  encounter  turned 
upon  him,  with  an  expression  that  seemed  to  say  a  separate  torture  should 
avenge  the  death  of  each  of  their  fallen  comrades. 

The  early  part  of  the  morning  wore  away  in  preparation  for  the  interment 
of  the  slain.  These  were  placed  in  rows  under  the  council  shed,  where  they 
were  attended  by  their  female  relatives,  who  composed  the  features  and  con- 
fined the  limbs,  while  the  gloomy  warriors  dug,  within  the  limit  of  the  en- 
campment, rude  graves,  of  a  depth  just  sufficient  to  receive  the  body.  When 
these  were  completed,  the  dead  were  deposited,  with  the  usual  superstitious 
ceremonies  of  these  people,  in  their  several  receptacles,  after  which  a  mound 
of  earth  was  thrown  up  over  each,  each  and  the  whole  covered  with  round  logs, 
so  disposed  as  to  form  a  tomb  of  semicircular  shape  :  at  the  head  of  each  grave 
was  finally  planted  a  pole,  bearing  various  devices  in  paint,  intended  to  illus- 
trate the  warlike  achievements  of  the  defunct  parties. 

Captain  de  Haldimar  had  followed  the  course  of  these  proceedings  with  a 
beating  heart ;  for  too  plainly  had  he  read  in  the  dark  and  threatening  manner 
both  of  men  and  women,  that  the  retribution  about  to  be  wreaked  upon  him- 
self would  be  terrible  indeed.  Much  as  he  clung  to  life,  and  bitterly  as  he 
mourned  at  his  early  cutting  off"  from  the  affections  hitherto  identified  with  his 
existence,  his  wretchedness  would  have  been  less,  had  he  not  been  overwhelmed 
by  the  conviction  that,  with  him,  must  perish  every  chance  of  the  safety  of 
those,  the  bare  recollection  of  whom  made  the  bitterness  of  death  even  more 
bitter.  Harrowing  as  were  these  reflections,  he  felt  that  immediate  destruc- 
tion, since  it  could  not  be  avoided,  would  be  rather  a  blessing  than  otherwise. 
But  such,  evidently,  was  not  the  purpose  of  his  relentless  enemy.  Every 
species  of  torment  which  his  cruel  invention  could  supply  would,  he  felt  con- 
vinced. Iw  exercised  upon  his  frame :  and  with  this  impression  on  his  mind,  it 


118  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

would  havdirequii-ed  sterner  nerves  than  his,  not  to  have  shrunk  from  the 
veiy  anticipation  of  so  dreadful  an  ordeal. 

It  was  now  noon,  and  yet  no  visible  preparation  vras  making  for  the  con- 
summation of  the  sacrifice.  This,  Captain  de  Haldimar  imputed  to  the  absence 
of  the  fierce  Wacousta,  whom  he  had  not  seen  since  the  return  of  the  warriors 
from  the  skirmish.  The  momentary  disappearance  of  this  extraordinary  and  fero- 
cious man  was,  however,  fraught  with  no  consolation  to  his  unfortunate  priso- 
ner, who  felt  he  was  only  engaged  in  taking  such  measures  as  would  render 
not  only  his  destruction  more  certain,  but  his  preliminary  sufferings  more  com- 
plicated and  protracted.  While  he  was  thus  indulging  in  fruitless  speculation 
as  to  the,  motive  for  his  absence,  he  fancied  he  heard  the  report  of  a  rifle,  suc- 
ceeded immediately  afterwards  by  the  war-whoop,  at  a  considerable  distance, 
aaid  in  the  direction  of  the  river.  In  this  impression  he  was  confirmed,  by  the 
sudden  upstarting  to  their  feet  of  the  young  Indians  to  whose  custody  he  had 
been  'committed,  who  now  advanced  to  the  outer  edge  of  the  belt  of  forest, 
with  the  apparent  object  of  obtaining  a  more  \mconfined  view  of  the  open 
ground  that  lay  beyond.  The  rapid  gliding  of  spectral  forms  from  the  interior 
of  the  encampment  in  the  same  direction,  denoted,  moreover,  that  the  Indians 
generally  had  heard,  and  were  attracted  by  the  same  sovmd. 

Presently  afterwards,  repeated  "  waughs  !"  and  "  Wacousta  ! — Wacousta  !" 
ii'om  those  who  had  reached  the  extreme  skirt  of  the  forest,  fell  on  the  dis- 
mayed ear  of  the  young  officer.  It  was  evident,  from  the  peculiar  tones  in 
which  these  words  were  pronounced,  that  they  beheld  that  warrior  approach- 
ing them  with  some  communication  of  interest ;  and,  sick  at  heart,  and  filled 
with  irrepressible  dismay.  Captain  de  Haldimar  felt  his  ptdse  to  throb  more 
violently  as  each  moment  brought  his  enemy  nearer  to  him. 

A  starthng  interest  was  now  created  among  the  Indians ;  for.  as  the  savage 
warrior  neared  the  forest,  his  lips  pealed  forth  that  peculiar  cry  which  is  meant 
to  announce  some  intelhgence  of  alarm.  Scarcely  had  its  echoes  died  away  in 
the  forest,  when  the  whole  of  the  warriors  rushed  from  the  encampment  to- 
wards the  clearing.  Directed  by  the  sound.  Captain  de  Haldimar  bent  Ids 
eyes  upon  the  thin  skirt  of  wood  that  lay  immediately  before  him,  and  at  in- 
tervals could  see  the  towering  form  of  that  -sast  warrior  bounding,  with  in- 
crechble  speed,  up  the  sloping  ground  that  led  from  the  town  towards  the  forest. 
A  ravine  lay  before  him  but  this  he  cleared  with  a  prodigious  effort,  at  a  sin- 
gle leap  ;  and  then,  continuing  his  -w&y  up  the  slope,  amid  the  low  guttural  ac- 
clamations of  the  warriors  at  his  extraordinary  dexterity  and  strength,  finally 
gained  the  side  of  Ponteac,  then  leaning  carelessly  against  a  tree  at  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  prisoner. 

A  low  and  animated  conversation  now  ensued  between  these  two  important 
personages,  which  at  moments  assumed  the  character  of  violent  discussion. 
From  what  Captain  de  Haldimar  could  collect,  the  Ottawa  chief  was  severely 
reproving  his  friend  for  the  inconsiderate  ai'dor  which  had  led  him  that  morn- 
ing into  colhsion  with  those  whom  it  was  their  object  to  lull  into  security  by 
a  careful  avoidance  of  hostihty,  and  urging  the  possibility  of  their  plan  being 
defeated  in  consequence.  He  moreover  obstinately  refused  the  pressing  request 
of  Wacousta,  in  regard  to  some  present  enterprise  which  the  latter  had  just 
suggested,  the  precise  nature  of  which,  however,  Captain  de  Haldimar  could 
not  learn.  Meanwhile,  the  rapid  flitting  of  numerous  forms  to  and  from  the 
encampment,  arrayed  in  all  the  fierce  panoply  of  savage  warfare,  while  low  ex- 
clamations of  excitement  occasionally  caught  his  ear,  led  the  officer  to  inf?r, 
strange  and  unusual  as  such  an  occm-rence  was,  that  either  the  detachment 
already  engaged,  or  a  second,  was  advancing  on  their  position.  Still,  this  offered 
little  chance  of  security  for  himself;  for  more  than  once,  during  his  long  con- 
ference with  Ponteac,  had  the  fierce  Wacousta  bent  his  eye  in  ferocious  triumph 
on  his  victim,  as  if  he  would  have  said, — "  Come  what  will — whatever  be  the 
result — you,  at  least,  shall  not  escape  me,"  Indeed,  so  confident  did  the  latter 
•feel  that  the  instant  of  attack  would  be  the  signal  of  his  own  death,  that  after 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      119 

the  first  momentary  and  instinctive  cheering  of  his  spirit,  he  rather  regretted 
the  circumstance  of  their  approach  ;  or,  if  he  rejoiced  at  all,  it  was  only  because 
it  afforded  him  the  prospect  of  immediate  death,  instead  of  being  exposed  to 
all  the  horror  of  a  lingering  and  agonising  sulfenng  from  the  torture. 

While  the  chiefs  were  yet  earnestly-  conversing,  the  alarm  cry,  previously 
uttered  by  Waconsta,  was  repeated,  although  in  a  low  and  subdued  tone,  by 
several  of  the  Indians  who  stood  on  the  brow  of  the  eminence.  Pontcac 
started  suddenly  to  the  same  point ;  but  Wacousta  continued  for  a  moment  or 
two  rooted  to  the  spot  on  which  he  stood,  with  the  air  of  one  in  doubt  as  to 
what  course  he  should  pursue.  He  then  abruptly  raised  his  head,  fixed  his 
dark  and  menacing  eye  on  his  captive,  and  was  already  in  the  act  of  approach- 
ing him,  when  the  earnest  and  repeated  demands  for  his  presence,  by  the  Ot- 
tawa chief,  drew  him  once  more  to  the  outskirt  of  the  wood. 

Again  Captain  de  Haldimar  breathed  freely.  The  presence  of  that  fierce 
man  had  been  a  clog  upon  the  vital  functions  of  his  heart ;  and  to  be  relieved 
from  it,  even  at  a  moment  like  the  present,  when  far  more  important  interests 
might  be  supposed  to  occupy  his  mind,  was  a  gratification,  of  which  not  even 
the  consciousness  of  impending  death  could  wholly  deprive  him.  From  the 
continued  pressing  of  the  Indians  towards  one  particular  point  in  the  clearing, 
he  now  conjectured,  that,  from  that  point,  the  advance  of  the  troops  was  visi- 
ble. Anxious  to  obtain  even  a  momentary  view  of  those  whom  he  deemed 
himself  fated  never  more  to  mingle  with  in  this  life,  he  raised  himself  upon  his 
feet,  and  stretched  his  neck  and  bent  his  eager  glance  in  the  direction  by 
which  Wacousta  had  approached ;  but,  so  closely  were  the  dark  warriors 
grouped  among  the  trees,  he  found  it  impossible.  Once  or  tvrice,  however,  he 
thought  he  could  distinguish  the  gleaming  of  the  English  bayonets  in  the 
bright  sunsliine,  as  they  seemed  to  file  off  in  a  parallel  line  Vt^ith  the  ravine. 
Oh,  how  his  generous  heart  throbbed  at  that  moment ;  and  how  ardently  did 
he  wish  that  he  could  have  stood  in  the  position  of  the  meanest  soldier  in  those 
gallant  ranks  !  Perhaps  his  own  brave  and  devoted  grenadiers  were  of  the 
number,  bijfning  ■with  enthusiasm  to  be  led  against  the  captors  or  destroyers 
of  their  oflEicer  ;  and  this  thought  added  to  his  wretchedness  still  more. 

While  the  unfortunate  prisoner,  thus  strangely  excited,  bent  his  whole  soul 
on  the  scene  before  him,  he  fancied  he  heard  the  approach  of  a  cautious  foot- 
step, lie  turned  his  head  as  well  as  his  confined  position  would  admit,  and 
beheld,  close  behind  him,  a  dark  Indian,  whose  eyes  alone  were  visible  above 
the  blanket  in  which  his  person  was  completely  enveloped.  His  right  arm 
was  uplifted,  and  the  blade  of  a  scalping  knife  glittered  in  his  hand.  A  cold 
shudder  ran  through  the  veins  of  the  young  officer,  and  he  closed  his  eyes, 
that  he  might  not  see  the  blow  which  he  felt  was  about  to  be  directed  at  his 
heart.  The  Indian  glanced  hurriedly  yet  cautiously  around,  to  see  if  he  was 
observed  ;  and  then,  with  the  rapidity  of  thought,  divided,  first  the  thongs 
that  secured  the  legs,  and  then  those  which  confined  the  arms  of  the  defence- 
less captive.  When  Captain  de  Haldimar,  full  of  astonishment  at  finding 
himself  once  more  at  liberty,  again  unclosed  his  eyes,  they  fell  on  the  not  un- 
handsome features  of  the  young  chief,  the  brother  of  Oucanasta. 

'■  The  Saganawis  the  prisoner  of  Wacousta,"  said  the  Indian  hastily  ;  "  and 
Wacousta  is  the  enemy  of  the  young  Ottawa  chief.  The  warriors  of  the  pale 
faces  are  there"  ("and  he  pointed  directly  before  him).  "  If  the  Saganaw  has 
a  bold  heart  and  a  swift  foot  he  may  save  his  life ;"  and,  with  this  intimation, 
he  hurried  away  in  the  same  cautious  manner,  and  was  in  the  next  instant 
seen  making  a  circuit  to  arrive  at  the  point  at  which  the  principal  strength  of 
the  Indians  was  collected. 

The  position  of  Captain  de  Haldimar  had  now  attained  its  acme  of  interest; 
for  on  Ifis  own  exertions  alone  depended  every  thing  that  remained  to  be  ac- 
complished. With  wonderful  presence  of  mind  he  surveyed  all  the  difficidties 
of  his  course,  while  he  availed  himself  at  the  same  moment  of  whatever  advan- 
tages were  within  his  grasp.      On  the  approach  of  Wacousta,  the  young 


120      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

Indians,  to  \vlio.se  custody  he  had  been  committed,  had  returned  to  their  post ; 
but  no  sooner  had  that  warrior,  obeying  the  call  of  Ponteac,  again  departed, 
than  they  once  more  tiew  to  the  extreme  skirt  of  the  forest,  after  first  satisfy- 
ing themselves  the  ligatures  which  confined  their  prisoner  were  secure.  Either 
with  a  view  of  avoiding  unnecessary  encumbrance  in  their  course,  or  through 
hurry  and  inadvertence,  they  had  left  their  blankets  near  the  foot  of  the  tree. 
The  first  thought  of  the  officer  was  to  seize  one  of  these  ;  for,  in  order  to  gain 
the  point  whence  his  final  effort  to  join  the  detachment  must  be  made,  it  was 
necessary  he  should  pass  through  the  body  of  scattered  Indians  who  stood 
immediately  in  hi^  way  ;  and  the  disguise  of  the  blanket  could  alone  afford 
hmi  a  reasonable  chance  of  moving  unnoticed  among  them.  Secretly  con- 
gratulating himself  on  the  insulting  mockery  that  had  inducted  his  upper  form 
in  the  disguising  war-paint  of  his  enemies,  he  now  drew  the  protecting  blanket 
close  up  to  his  eyes  ;  and  then,  with  every  nerve  braced  up,  ever}-  faculty 
of  mind  and  body  called  into  action,  commenced  his  dangerous  enterprise. 

He  had  not,  however,  taken  more  than  two  or  three  steps  in  advance,  when, 
to  his  great  discomfiture  and  alarm,  he  beheld  the  formidable  Wacousta  ap- 
proaching from  a  distance,  evidently  in  search  of  his  prisoner.  With  the 
quickness  of  thought  he  deternlined  on  his  course.  To  appear  to  avoid  him 
would  be  to  excite  the  suspicion  of  the  fierce  warrior ;  and  desperate  as  the 
alternative  was,  he  resolved  to  move  undeviatingly  forward.  At  each  step 
that  drew  liim  nearer  to  his  enemy,  the  beating  of  his  heart  Ijccame  more 
violent ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  thick  coat  of  paint  in  which  he  was 
invested,  the  involuntary  contraction  of  the  muscles  of  his  face  must  inevitably 
have  betrayed  him.  Nay,  even  as  it  was,  had  the  keen  eye  of  the  warrior 
fallen  on  him,  such  was  the  agitation  of  the  officer,  he  felt  he  must  have  been 
discovered.  Happily,  however,  Wacousta,  who  evidently  took  him  for  some 
inferior  warrior  hastening  to  the  point  where  his  fellows  were  already  assem- 
bled, passed  without  deigning  to  look  at  him,  and  so  close,  their  forms  almost 
touched.  Captain  de  Haldimar  now  quickend  his  pace.  It  was  evident  there 
was  no  time  to  be  lost ;  for  Wacousta,  on  finding  him  gone,  would  at  once 
give  the  alarm,  when  a  hundred  warriors  would  be  ready  on  41ie  instant  to 
intercept  his  flight.  Taking  the  precaution  to  disguise  his  walk  by  turning  in 
his  toes  after  the  Indian  manner,  he  reached,  with  a  beating  heart,  the  first 
of  the  numerous  warriors  who  were  collected  within  the  belt  of  forest,  anx- 
iously watching  the  movements  of  the  detachment  in  the  plain  below.  To  his 
infinite  joy  he  found  that  each  was  too  much  intent  on  what  was  passing  in 
the  distance,  to  heed  any  thing  going  on  near  themselves  ;  and  when  he  at 
length  gained  the  extreme  opening,  and  stood  in  a  line  with  those  who  were 
the  farthest  advanced,  without  having  excited  a  single  suspicion,  in  his  course, 
he  could  scarcely  believe  the  evidence  of  his  senses. 

.  Still  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  enterprise  remained  to  be  completed. 
Hitherto  he  had  moved  under  the  friendly  cover  of  the  underwood,  the  advan- 
tage of  which  had  been  to  conceal  that  part  of  his  regimental  trousers  which 
the  blanket  left  exposed  ;  and  if  he  moved  forward  into  the  clearing,  the  quick 
glance  of  an  Indian  would  not  be  slow  in  detecting  the  difference  between 
these  and  his  own  ruder  leggings.  There  was  no  alternative  now  but  to  com- 
mence his  flight  from  the  spot  on  which  he  stood  ;  and  for  this  he  prepared 
himself.  At  one  rapid  and  comprehensive  view  he  embraced  the  immediate 
localities  before  him.  On  the  other  side  of  the  ravine  he  could  now  distinctly 
see  the  English  troops,  either  planing,  as  he  conceived,  their  own  attack,  or 
waiting  in  the  hope  of  drawing  the  Indians  fi'om  their  cover.  It  was  evident 
that  to  reach  them  the  ravine  must  be  crossed,  unless  the  more  circuitous 
route  by  the  bridge,  which  was  hid  from  his  view  by  an  intervening  hillock, 
should  be  preferr^  ;  but  as  the  former  had  been  cleared  by  Wacousta  in  his 
ascent,  and  was  the  nearest  point  by  which  the  detachment  could  be  ap- 
proached, to  this  did  he  now  du-ect  his  undivided  attention. 

While  he  yet  paused  with  indecision,  at  one  moment  fancying  the  time  for 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      121 

starting  was  not  yet  arrived,  and  at  the  next  that  ho  had  suffered  it  to  pass 
away,  the  powerful  and  threatening  voice  of  Wacousta  was  heard  proclaiming 
the  escape  of  his  cjiptive.  Low  but  expressive  exclamations  from  the  warriors 
marked  their  sense  of  the  importance  of  the  intcllij^cnce ;  and  many  of  them 
hastily  dispersed  themselves  in  pursuit.  This  was  the  critical  moment  for 
action ;  for,  as  the  anxious  officer  had  rather  wished  than  expected,  those  In- 
dians who  had  been  immediately  in  front,  and  whose  proximity  he  most 
dreaded,  were  among;  tlu;  number  of  those  who  dashed  into  the  heart  of  the 
forest.  .  Captain  de  Ilaldimar  now  stood  alone,  and  full  twenty  paces  in  front 
of  the  nearest  of  the  savages.  For  a  moment  he  played  with  his  mocassined 
foot,  to  .satisfy  himself  of  the  power  and  liexibility  of  its  muscles,  and  then 
committing  himself  to  his  (Jod,  dashed  the  blanket  suddenly  from  liis  shoul- 
ders, and,  with  eye  and  heart  fixed  on  the  distant  soldiery,  darted  down  the 
declivity  with  a  speed  of  which  he  had  never  yet  believed  Iiimsclf  capable. 
Scarcely,  however,  had  his  fleeing  form  appeared  in  the  opening,  when  a  tre- 
mendous and  deafening  yell  rent  the  air,  and  a  dozen  wild  and  naked  warriors 
followed  instantly  in  pursuit.  Attracted  by  that  yell,  the  terrible  Wacousta, 
who  had  been  seeking  his  victim  in  a  different  quarter,  bounded  forward  to 
the  front,  with  an  eye  flashing  fire,  and  a  brow  compressed  into  the  fiercest 
hate ;  and  so  stupendous  were  his  efforts,  so  extraordinary  was  his  speed, 
that  had  it  not  been  for  the  young  Ottawa  chief,  who  was  one  of  the  pursuing 
party,  and  who,  under  the  pretence  of  assisting  in  the  recapture  of  the  prison- 
er, sought  every  opportunity  of  throwing  himself  before,  and  embarrassing 
the  movements  of  his  enemy,  it  is  highly  probable  the  latter  would  have  suc- 
seeded.  Despite  of  these  obstacles,  liowever,  the  fierce  Wacousta,  who  had 
been  the  last  to  follow,  soon  left  the  foremost  of  liis  companions  far  behind 
him  ;  and  but  for  his  sudden  fall,  while  m  the  very  act  of  seizing  the  arm  of 
his  prisoner,  his  gigantic  efforts  must  have  been  crowned  with  the  fullest  suc- 
cess. But  the  reader  has  already  seen  how  miraculously  Captain  de  Haldimar, 
reduced  to  the  last  stage  of  debility,  as  much  from  inanition  as  from  the  un- 
natural efforts  of  his  flight,  finally  accomplished  his  return  to  the  detachments 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

At  the  western  extremity  of  the  lake  Huron,  and  almost  washed  by  the  waters 
of  that  pigmy  ocean,  stands  the  fort  of  MichOlimackinac.  Constructed  on  a 
smaller  scale,  and  garrisoned  by  a  less  numerical  force,  the  defences  of  this  post, 
although  less  formidable  than  those  of  the  Detroit,  were  nearly  similar,  at  the 
period  embraced  by  our  f=,tory,  both  in  matter  and  in  manner.  Unlike  the 
latter  fortress,  however,  it  boasted  none  of  the  advantages  afforded  by  cul- 
ture ;  neither,  indeed,  was  there  a  single  spot  in  the  immediate  vicinity  that 
was  not  clad  in  the  eternal  forest  of  these  regions.  It  is  true,  that  art  and 
laborious  exertion  had  so  far  supplied  the  deficiencies  of  nature  as  to  isolate 
the  fort,  and  throw  it  under  the  protecting  sweep  of  its  cannon;  but,  while 
this  afforded  security,  it  failed  to  produce  any  thing  like  a  pleasing  effect  to 
the  eye.  The  very  site  on  which  the  fortress  now  stood  had  at  one  period 
been  a  portion  of  the  wildernes.s  that  every  where  around  was  only  termina- 
ted by  the  sands  on  the  lake  shore  :  and,  although  time  and  the  axe  of  the 
pioneer  had  in  some  degree  changed  its  featm-cs,  still  there  was  no  trace  of 
that  blended  natural  scenery  that  so  pleasingly  diversified  the  vicinity  of  the 
sister  fort.  Here  and  there,  along  the  imperfect  clearing,  and  amid  the  dark 
and  thickly  studded  stumps  of  the  felled  trees,  which  in  themselves  were  suf- 
ficient to  give  the  most  lugubrious  character  to  the  scene,  rose  the  rude  log 
cabin  of  the  settler ;  but,  beyond  this,  cultivation  appeared  to  have  lost  her 
power  in  proportion  with  the  difliculties  she  had  to  encounter.     Even  the  two 


122  WACOtJSTA;     OR,   tSe    prophecy. 

Indian  villages,  L'Arbre-Croche  and  Ohabouiga,  situate  about  a  mile  from  the 
ibTt,  with  which  they  formed  nearly  an  equilateral  triangle,  were  hid  from 
the  view  of  the  garrison  by  the  dark  dense  forest,  in  the  heart  of  which  they 
■W(rre  embedded. 

Lakeward  the  view  was  scarcely  less  monotonous ;  but  it  was  iiot,  as  in  the 
Tear,  that  monotony  which  is  never  occasionally  broken  in  upon  by  some  Oc- 
CuiTcnce  of  interest.  If  the  eye  gazed,  long  and  anxiousty  for  the  white  sail 
of  the  well  known  armed  vessel,  charged  at  stated  intervals  with  letters  and 
tidings  of  those  whom  time,  and  distance,  and  danger,  far  from  estranging, 
rendered  more  dear  to  the  memory,  and  bound  inore  closely  to  the  heart,  it 
was  sure  of  being  rewarded  at  last ;  and  then  there  -n'as  no  picture  on  which 
it  could  love  to  linger  so  well  as  that  of  the  silver  waves  bearing  that  valued 
vessel  in  safety  to  its  wonted  anchorage  in  the  oflBng.  Moreover,  the  liglvt 
swift  bark  canoes  of  the  natives  often  danced  joyously  on  its  surface ;  and 
while  the  sight  was  ofi'ended  at  the  savage,  skulking  among  the  trees  of  the 
forest,  like  some  dark  spirit  moving  cautiousl}'-  in  its  course  of  secret  destruc- 
tion, and  watching  the  moment  when  he  might  pounce  unnoticed  upon  his 
unprepared  victim,  it  followed,  with  momentary  pleasure  and  excitement,  the 
activity  and  skill  displayed  by  the  harmless  paddler,  in  the  swift  and  meteor- 
like  race  that  set  the  trouWed  surface  of  the  Huron  in  a  sheet  of  hissing  fOiim. 
Nor  was  this  all.  When  the  eye  turned  wood-ward,  it  fell  heavily,  and  with- 
out interest,  upon  a  dim  and  dusky  point,  known  to  enter  upon  savage  scenes 
and  unexplored  counti'ies  ;  whereas,  whenever  it  reposed  upon  the  lake,  it  was 
with  an  eagerness  and  energy  that  embraced  the  most  vivid  recollections  of 
the  past,  and  led  the  imagination  buoyantly  over  every  well-remembered  scene 
that  had  previously  been  traversed,  and  which  must  be  traversed  again  before 
the  land  of  the  European  could  be  pressed  once  more.  The  forest,  in  a  word, 
formed,  as  it  were,  the  gloom}^  and  impenetrable  walls  of  the  prison-house, 
and  the  bright  lake  that  lay  before  it  the  only  portal  through  which  happiness 
and  liberty  could  be  again  secured. 

The  principal  entrance  into  the  fort,  which  presented  four  equal  sides  of  a 
square,  was  from  the  forest ;  but  immediately  opposite  to  this,  and  behind  the 
apartments  of  the  commanding  officer,  there  was  another  small  gate  that 
opened  upon  the  lake  shore  ;  but  which,  since  the  investment  of  the  place, 
had  been  kept  bolted  and  locked,  with  a  precaution  befitting  the  danger  to 
which  the  garrison  was  exposed.  Still,  there  were  periods,  even  now,  when  its 
sullen  hinges  were  to  be  heard  moaning  on  the  midnight  Ijreeze  ;  for  it  served 
as  a  medium  of  communication  between  the  besieged  and  others  who  were  no 
less  critically  circumstanced  than  themselves. 

The  very  day  before  the  Indians  commenced  their  simultaneous  attack  on 
the  several  posts  of  the  English,  the  only  armed  vessel  that  had  been  con- 
structed on  these  upper  lakes,  serving  chiefly  as  a  medium  of  communication 
between  Detroit  and  Michiilim;ickinac,  had  arrived  with  despatches  and  letters 
from  the  former  fort.  A  well-concerted  plan  of  the  savages  to  seize  her  in 
her  passage  through  the  narrow  waters  of  the  river  Sinclair  had  onlj^  been 
defeated  by  the  vigilance  of  her  commander  ;  but  ever  since  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war,  she  had  been  imprisoned  within  the  limits  of  the  Huron.  Labori- 
ous indeed  was  the  duty  of  tlie  devoted  crew.  Several  attempts  had  been 
renewed  b}^  the  Indians  to  surprise  them  ;  hut,  although  their  little  fleets 
stole  cautiousl}^  and  noiselessly,  at  the  still  hour  of  midnight,  to  the  spot 
where,  at  the  last  expiring  ra)-s  of  twilight,  they  had  beheld  her  carelesslj^ 
anchored,  and  apparently  lulled  into  security,  the  subject  of  their  search  was 
ne\^Y  to  be  met  with.  No  sooner  were  objects  on  the  shore  rendered  indis- 
tinct to  the  eye,  than  the  anchor  was  silently  weighted,  and,  gliding  wherever 
the  breeze  might  choose  to  carry  her,  the  light  bark  was  made  to  traverse  the 
lake,  with  every  sail  set,  imtU  dawn.  None,  however,  were  suffered  to  slum- 
ber in  the  presumed  security  alforded'  by  this  judicious  flight.  Every  man 
tvns  at  his  post ;  and,  while  a  silence  so  profound  was  preserved  that  the 


wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy.  123 

noise  of  a  falling  pin  might  have  been  licard  ujwn  her  docks,  cvcr3'thing  was 
in  readiness  to  repel  an  attack  of  their  enemies,  should  the  vessel,  in  her 
course,  come  accidentally  in  collision  with  their  pigmy  fleets.  When  morning 
broke,  and  no  sign  of  their  treacherous  foes  was  visible,  the  vessel  was  again 
anchored,  and  the  majority  of  the  crew  suffered  to  retire  to  their  hammocks, 
while  the  few  whose  turn  of  duty  it  chanced  to  be,  kept  a  vigilant  look-ont, 
that,  on  the  slightest  appearance  of  alarm,  their  slumbering  comrades  might 
again  be  aroused  to  energy  and  action. 

Severe  and  harassing  as  had  been  the  duty  on  board  this  vessel  for  mantjr 
months, — at  one  moment  exposed  to  the  assaults  of  savages,  at  another  as- 
sailed by  hurricanes  that  are  so  prevalent  and  so  dangerous  on  the  American 
lakes, — the  situation  of  the  crew  was  even  less  enviable  than  that  of  the  gar- 
rison itself.  AVhat  chiefiy  contributed  to  their  disquietude,  was  the  dreadful 
consciousness  that,  however  their  present  eftbrts  might  secure  a  temporary 
safety,  the  period  of  their  fall  was  only  protracted.  A  few  months  more 
must  bring  with  them  all  the  severity  of  the  winter  of  those  climes,  and  then, 
blocked  up  in  a  sea  of  ice, — exposed  to  all  the  rigor  of  cold, — all  the  miseries 
of  hunger, — what  effectual  resistance  could  thej^  oppose  to  the  numerous 
bands  of  Indians  who,  swailing  themselves  of  the  defenceless  position  of  their 
enemies,  would  rush  from  every  quarter  to  their  destruction. 

At  the  outset  of  these  disheartening  circumstances,  the  officer  had  sum- 
moned his  faithful  crew  together,  and  pointing  out  the  danger  and  uncertainty 
of  their  position,  stated  that  two  chances  of  escape  still  remained  to  them. 
The  first  was  by  an  attempt  to  accomplish  the  passage  of  the  river  Sinclair 
during  some  dark  and  boisterous  night,  when  the  Indiana  would  be  least 
likely  to  suspect  such  an  intention :  it  was  at  this  point  that  the  efforts  of 
their  enemies  were  principally  to  be  apprehended  ;  but  if,  under  cover  of 
storm  and  darkness,  they  could  accomplish  this  difficult  passage,  they  would 
easily  gain  the  Detroit,  and  thence  pass  into  Lake  Erie,  at  the  further  ex- 
tremity of  which  they  might,  favored  by  Providence,  effect  a  landing,  and 
penetrate  to  the  inhabited  parts  of  the  colony  of  New  York.  The  other  al- 
ternative was, — and  he  left  it  to  themselves  to  determine, — to  sink  the  vessel 
on  the  approach  of  winter,  ahd  throw  themselves  into  the  fort  before  them, 
there  to  await  and  share  the  destiny  of  its  gallant  defenders. 

With  the  generous  enthusiasm  of  their  profession,  the  noble  fellows  had 
determined  on  the  latter  course.  With  their  officer  they  fully  coincided  in 
opinion,  that  their  ultimate  hopes  of  fife  depended  on  the  safe  passage  of  the 
Sinclair ;  for  it  was  but  too  obvious,  that  soon  or  late,  unless  some  very  ex- 
traordinary revolution  should  be  effected  in  the  intentions  of  the  Indians,  .the 
fortress  must  be  starved  into  submission.  Still,  as  it  was  tolerably  well  sup- 
plied with  provisions,  this  gloomy  prospect  was  remote,  and  they  were  willing 
to  run  all  chances  with  their  friends  on  shore,  rather  than  desert  them  in  their 
extremity.  The  determination  expressed  by  them,  therefore,  was  that  when 
they  could  no  longer  keep  the  lake  in  safety,  they  would,  if  the  officer  per- 
mitted it,  scuttle  the  vessel,  and  attempt"  an  entrance  into  the  fort,  where  they 
would  share  the  fate  of  the  troops,  whatever  it  might  chance  to  be. 

No  sooner  was  this  resolution  made  known,  than  their  young  commander 
sought  an  opportunity  of  communicating  with  the  garrison.  This,  however, 
was  no  very  easy  task ;  for,  so  closely  was  the  fort  hemmed  in  by  the  savages, 
it  was  impossible  to  introduce  a  messenger  within  its  walls  ;  and  so  sudden 
had  been  the  cutting  off  of  all  communication  between  the  vessel  and  the 
shore,  that  the  thought  had  not  even  occurred  to  either  commander  to  estab- 
lish the  most  ordinary  intelligence  by  signal.  In  this  dilemma,  recourse  was 
had  to  an  ingenious  expedient.  The  despatches  of  the  officer  were  enclosed 
in  one  of  the  long  tin  tubes  in  which  were  generally  deposited  the  maps  and 
charts  of  the  schooner,  and  to  this,  after  having  been  carefully  soldered,  was 
attached  an  inch  rope  of  several  hundred  fathoms  in  length :  the  case  was 
then  put  into  one  of  the  ship's  guns,  so  j):accd  as  to  give  it  the  elevation  of  a 


124  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

mortar ;  thus  prepared,  advantage  was  taken  of  a  temporary  absence  of  the 
Indians  to  bring  the  vessel  within  half  a  mile  of  the  shore,  and  when  the  at- 
tention of  the  garrison,  naturall}^  attracted  by  this  unusual  movement,  was 
sufficiently  awakened,  that  opportunity  was  chosen  for  the  discharge  of  the 
gun  ;  and  as  the  quantity  of  powder  had  been  proportionably  reduced  for  the 
limited  range,  the  tube  was  soon  safel}'  deposited  within  the  rampart.  The 
same  means  were  adopted  in  replying ;  and  one  end  of  the  rope  remaining 
attached  to  the  schooner,  all  that  was  necessary  was  to  solder  up  the  tube  as 
before,  and  throw  it  over  the  ramparts  upon  the  sands,  whence  it  was  imme- 
aiately  pulled  over  her  side  by  the  watohful  mariners. 

As  the  despatch  conveyed  to  the  garrison,  among  other  siibjects  of  interest, 
bore  the  unwelcome  intelligence  that  the  supplies  of  the  crew  were  nearly  ex- 
pended, an  arrangement  was  proposed  by  which,  at  stated  intervals,  a  more 
immediate  communication  with  the  former  might  be  effected.  Whenever, 
therefore,  the  wind  permitted,  the  vessel  was  kept  hovering  in  sight  during  the 
day,  beneath  the  eyes  of  the  savages,  and  on  tlie  approach  of  evening  an  un- 
shotted  gun  was  discharged,  with  a  view  of  drawing  their  attention  more  im- 
mediately to  her  movements ;  every  sail  was  then  set,  and  under  a  cloud  of 
canvass  the  course  of  the  schooner  was  directed  towards  the  source  of  the  Sin- 
clair, as  if  an. attempt  to  accomplish  that  passage  was  to  be  made  during  the 
night.  No  sooner,  however  had  the  darkness  fairly  set  in,  than  the  vessel  was 
put  about,  and,  beating  against  the  wind,  generally  contrived  to  reach  the  off- 
ing at  a  stated  hour,  when  a  boat,  provided  with  muffied  oars,  was  sent  off  to 
the  shore.  This  ruse  had  several  times  deceived  the  Indians,  and  it  was  on 
these  occasions  that  the  small  gate  to  which  we  have  alluded  was  opened,  for 
the  purpos'e  of  conveying  the  necessary  supplies. 

The  buildings  of  the  fort  consisted  chieHy  of  block-houses,  the  internal  ac- 
commodations of  which  were  fully  in  keeping  with  their  rude  exterior,  being 
but  indifferently  provided  with  the  most  ordinary  articles  of  comfort,  and  fit- 
ted up  as  the  limited  resources  of  that  wild  and  remote  district  could  supply. 
The  best  and  most  agreeably  situated  of  these,  if  a  choice  could  be  made,  was 
that  of  the  commanding  officer.  This  building  rose  considerably  above  the 
others,  and  overhanging  that  part  of  the  rampart  wliich  skirted  the  shores  of 
the  Huron,  commanded  a  full  view  of  the  lake,  even  to  its  extremity  of  frown- 
ing and  belting  forest. 

To  this  block-house  there  were  two  staircases  ;  the  principal  leading  to  the 
front  entrance  from  the  barrack-square,  the  other  opening  in  the  rear,  close 
under  the  rampart,  and  communicating  by  a  few  rude  steps  with  the  small 
gate  that  led  upon  the  sands.  In  the  lower  part  of  this  building,  appropriated 
by  the  commanding  officer  to  that  exclusive  purpose,  the  official  duties  of  his 
situation  were  usually  performed  ;  and  on  the  ground-fioor  a  large  room,  that 
extended  from  front  to  rear  of  the  block-house  on  one  side  of  the  passage,  had 
formerly  been  used  as  a  hall  of  council  with  the  Indian  chiefs.  The  floor  above 
this  comprised  both  his  own  private  apartments  and  those  set  apart  for  the 
general  use  of  the  family  ;  but,  above  all,  and  preferable  from  their  cheerful 
view  over  the  lake,  were  others,  which  had  been  reserved  for  the  exclusive  ac- 
commodation of  Miss  de  Haldimar.  The  upper  floor  consisted  of  two  sleeping 
apartments,  with  a  sitting-room,  the  latter  extending  the  whole  length  of  the 
block-house,  and  opening  immediately  upon  tlie  lake  from  the  only  two  win- 
dows with  which  that  side  of  the  building  was  provided.  The  principal  stair- 
case led  into  one  of  the  bed-rooms,  and  both  of  the  latter  communicated  imme- 
diately with  the  sitting  room,  which  again,  in  its  turn,  opened,  at  the  opposite 
extremity  on  the  narrow  staircase  that  led  to  the  rear  of  the  block-house. 

The  furniture  of  the  apartment,  which  might  be  taken  as  a  fair  sample  of 
the  best  the  country  could  afford,  was  wild,  yet  .simple,  in  the  extreme.  Neat 
rush  mats,  of  an  oblong  square,  and  fintastically  put  together,  so  as  to  exhibit 
in  the  weaving  of  the  several  colored  reeds  both  fig-ures  that  were  known  to 
exist  in  the  creation,  and  those  which  could  have  no  being  save  in  the  imagi- 


wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy.  135 

nation  of  tlioir  fraracvs,  served  as  excellent  substitutes  for  carpets,  while  rush 
bottomed  ehjurs,  the  product  of  Indian  ingenuity  also,  occupied  those  intervals 
around  the  room  tliat  w^erc  unsuppHed  hy  the  matting;.  Upon  the  walls  were 
hung  numerous  specimens  both  of  the  dress  and  of  the  equipments  of  the 
savages,  and  mingled  with  these  were  many  natural  curiosities,  the  gifts  of  In- 
dian chiefs  to  the  commandant  at  various  times  before  the  war. 

Nothing  could  bo  more  unlike  the  embelHshments  of  a  modern  European 
boudoir  than  those  of  tliis  ajjartment,  which  liad,  in  some  degree,  been  made  the 
sanctum  of  its  present  occupants.  Here  was  to  be  seen  the  sc^ily  carcase  of 
some  huge  serpent,  extending  its  now  harmless  length  from  the  ceiling  to  the 
floor — there  an  alligator,  stuHed  after  the  same  fashion  ;  and  in  various  direc- 
tions the  skins  of  the  beaver,  the  marten,  the  otter,  and  an  infinitude  of  others 
of  that  genus,  filled  up  spaces  that  were  left  unsupplied  by  the  more  ingenious 
specimens  of  Indian  art.  Head  dresses  tastefully  wrought  in  the  shape  of  the 
crowning  bays  of  the  ancients,  and  composed  of  the  gorgeous  leathers  of  the 
most  splendid  of  the  forest  bird's— bows  and  quivers,  handsomely  and  even 
elegantly  ornamented  with  that  most  tastefid  of  Indian  decorations,  the  stained 
quill  of  "the  porcupine ;  war  clulxs  of  massive  iron  wood,  their  handles  covered 
with  stained  horse-hair  and  feathers,  curiously  mingled  together — machecotis, 
hunting  coats,  mocassins,  and  leggings,  all  worked  in  porcupine  quill,  and  fan- 
cifully arranged, — these,  with  many  others,  had  been  called  into  requisition  to 
bedeck  and  relieve  the  otherwise  rude  and  naked  walls  of  the  apartment. 

Nor  did  the  walls  alone  reflect  back  the  picture  of  savage  ingenuity,  for  on 
the  various  tables,  the  rude  polish  of  which  was  hid  from  view  by  the  simple 
covering  of  green  baize,  which  moreover  constituted  the  garniture  of  the  win- 
dows, were  to  be  .seen  other  products  of  their  art.  Here  stood  upon  an  ele- 
vated stand  a  model  of  a  bark  canoe,  filled  with  its  complement  of  paddlers 
carved  in  wood  and  dressed  in  full  costume ;  the  latter  executed  with  such 
singular  fidelity  of  feature,  that  although  the  speaking  figures  sprung  not  from 
the  experienced  and  classic  chisel  of  the  sculptor,  but  from  the  rude  scalping 
knife  of  the  savage,  the  very  tribe  to  which  they  belonged  could  be  discovered 
at  a  glance  by  the  European  who  was  conversant  with  the  features  of  each : 
then  there  were  handsomely  ornamented  vessels  made  of  the  birch  bark,  and 
filled  with  the  delicate  sugars  which  the  natives  extract  from  the  maple  tree 
in  early  spring ;  these  of  all  sizes,  even  to  the  most  tiny  that  could  well  be 
imagined,  were  valuable  rather  as  exquisite  specimens  of  the  neatnesB  with 
which  those  slight  vessels  could  be  put  together,  sewn  as  they  were  merely 
with  strips  of  the  same  bark,  than  from  any  intrinsic  value  they  possessed. 
Coverecl,  over  with  fantastic  figures,  done  either  in  paint,  or  in  quill  work  art- 
fully interwoven  into  the  fibres  of  the  bark,  they  presented,  in  their  smooth 
and  polished  surface,  strong  evidence  of  the  address  of  the  savages  in  their  pre- 
paration of  this  most  useful  and  abundant  produce  of  the  country.  Inter- 
spersed with  fliese,  too,  were  numerous  stands  filled  with  stufted  birds,  some 
of  which  combined  in  themselves  every  variety  and  shade  of  dazzling  plumage ; 
and  numerous  rude  cases  contained  the  rarest  specimens  of  the  American  but- 
terfly, most  of  which  were  of  sizes  and  tints  that  are  no  where  equalled  in 
Europe.  One  solitary  table  alone  was  appropriated  to  whatever  wore  a  trans- 
atlantic character  in  this  wild  and  museum-like  apartment.  On  this  lay  a 
Spanish  guitar,  a  few  pieces  of  old  music,  a  collection  of  English  and  French 
books,  a  couple  of  writing  desks,  and  scattered  over  the  whole,  several  articles 
of  unfinished  needle-work. 

Such  was  the  apartment  in  which  Madeline  and  Clara  de  Haldimar  were 
met  at  the  moment  we  have  selected  for  their  introduction  to  our  readers.  It 
was  the  morning  of  thai  <lay  on  which  the  second  council  of  the  chiefs,  the 
result  of  which  has  already  been  seen,  was  held  at  Detroit.  The  sun  had 
risen  bright  and  gorgeously  above  the  adjacent  forest,  tJirowing  his  golden 
beams  upon  the  calm  glassy  waters  of  the  lake ;  and  now,  approaching  ra- 
pidly toward.^  the  meridian,  gradually  diminished  the  tall  bold  shadows  of 


126  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy, 

the  block-houses  u{X)n  the  shore.  At  the  distance  of  about  a  mile  lay  the 
armed. vessel  so  often  alluded  to;. her  light  low  hull  dimly  seen  in  the  hazy 
atmosphere  that  danced  upon  the  -waters,  and  her  attenuated  masts  and  slop- 
ino-  jards,  with  their  slight  tracery  cordage,  recalling  rather  the  complex  and 
delicate  ramifications  of  the  spidei''s  web,  than  the  elastic  yet  solid  machinery 
to  which  the  lives  of  those  witliin  had  so  often  been  committed  in  sea  and 
temi>est.  Upon  the  strand,  and  close  opposite  to  the  small  gate  which  now- 
stood  ajar,  lay  one  of  her  boats,  the  crew  of  which  had  abandoned  her  with 
the  exception  only  of  a  single  individual,  apparently  her  cockswain,  who,  with 
the  tiller  under  his  arm,  lay  half  extended  in  the  stern  sheets,  his  naked  chest 
exposed,  and  his  tarpaulin  hat  shielding  his  eyes  from  the  sun  while  he  indulg- 
ed in  profound  repose.  These  were  the  only  objects  that  told  of  human  life. 
Every  where  beyond  the  eye  rested  on  the  faint  outline  of  forest,  that  appear- 
ed like  the  softened  tracing  of  a  pencil  at  the  distant  junction  of  the  wat^s 
with  the  horizon. 

The  windows  that  commanded  this  prospect  were  now  open  ;  and  through 
that  whicli  was  nearest  to  the  gate,  half  reclined  the  elegant,  slight  form  of  a 
female,  who,  with  an  open  letter  in  her  hand,  glanced  her  eye  alternately,  and 
wdth  an  expression  of  joyousness,  towards  the  vessel  that  lay  beyond  and  the 
point  in  wliich  the  source  of  the  SincUvlr  was  known  to  lie.  It  was  Clara  de 
Haldimar. 

Presently  the  vacant  space  at  the  same  window  was  filled  by  another  f9rm, 
but  of  less  girlish  appearance — one  that  embraced  all  the  full  rich  contour  of 
the  Mcdicean  Venus,  and  a  lazy  languor  in  its  movements  that  harmonised  with 
the  speaking  outlines  of  the  form,  and  without  which  the  beauty  of  the  whole 
would  have  been  at  variance  and  imperfect.  The  general  expression  more- 
over, of  a  countenance  which,  closely  analysed,  could  not  not  be  termed  beau- 
ful,  marked  a  mind  at  once  ardent  in  its  conceptions,  and  steady  and  resolute 
in  its  silent  accomplishments  of  purpose.     She  was  of  the  middle  height. 

Such  was  the  person  of  Madeline  de  Haldimar ;  but  attractive,  or  rather 
winning,  as  were  her  womanly  attributes,  her  principal  power  lay  in  her  voice, 
— the  beauty,  nay  voluptuousness  of  which  nothing  could  surpass.  It  was 
impossible  to  listen  to  tlie  slow,  full,  rich,  deep,  and  melodious  tones  that  fell 
trembling  from  her  lips  upon  the  ear,  and  not  feel,  aye  shudder,  under  all 
their  ftiscination  on  the  soul.  In  such  a  voice  might  the  Madonna  of  Raphael 
have  been  supposed  to  offer  up  her  supplications  from  the  gloomy  precincts  of 
the  cloister.  No  wonder  that  Frederick  de  Haldimar  loved  her,  and  loved 
her  with  all  the  intense  devotedness  of  his  own  glowing  heart.  His  cousin 
was  to  him  a  divinity  whom  he  worshipped  in  the  innermost  recesges  of  his 
being ;  and  his.  in  return,  ivas  the  only  ear  in  which  the  accents  of  that  al- 
most sujxirhuman  voice  had  breathed  the  thrilling  confession  of  an  attach- 
ment, which  its  very  tones  announced  would  be  deep  and  imperishable  as  the 
soul  in  Avhich  it  had  taken  root.  Often  in  the  hours  that  preceded  the  period 
when  they  were  to  have  been  united,  heart  and  mind  and  thought,  in  one 
common  destiny,  would  he  start  from  her  side,  his  brain  whirling  with  very 
intoxication,  and  then  obeying  another  wild  impulse,  rush  once  more  into  her 
embrace  ;  and  clasping  his  beloved  Madeline  to  his  heart,  entreat  her  again  to 
pour  forth  aU  the  melody  of  that  confession  in  his  enraptured  ear.  Artless 
and  unafl'ected  as  she  was  generous  and  impassioned,  the  fond  and  noble  girl 
never  hesitated  to  gratify  him  whom  alo!ie  she  loved  ;  and  deep  and  fervent 
was  the  joy  of  the  soldier,  when  he  found  that  each  passionate  entreaty,  far 
from  being  met  with  caprice,  only  drew  from  the  lips  of  his  cousin  warmer 
and  more  affectionate  expressions  of  her  attachment.  Such  expressions,  com- 
ing from  any  woman,  must  have  been  rapturous  and  soothing  in  the  extreme ; 
but,  when  they  flowed  from  a  voice  whose  very  sound  was  melody,  they  acted 
cm  the  heart  of  Captain  de  Haldimar  with  a  potency  that  was  as  irresistible 
as  the  love  itself  which  she  inspired. 

Such  was  the  position  of  things  just  before  the  commencement  of  the  In- 


wacousta;  or,  thk  prophecy.      127 

diaji  war.  Madeline  do  Haldiraar  had  bueu  for  some  time  on  a  visit  to  De- 
troit, and  her  niJirriage  \vith  her  cousin  was  to  have  taken  place  witliin  a  few- 
days.  The  unexpected  arrival  of  intelliG;cnc3  from  Michillimaokinac  that  her 
father  was  danj^orously  ill,  however,  retarded  the  ceremony ;  and,  up  to  the 
present  period,  their  intercourse  had  been  (,'oinplctely  .suspended.  If  Made- 
line de  Haldimar  was  capable  of  strong  attachment  to  her  lover,  the  power- 
ful ties  of  nature  were  no  less  deeply  rooted  in  her  heart,  and  commiseration 
and  anxiety  for  her  father  now  engrossed  every  faculty  of  her  mind.  She 
entreated  her  cousin  to  defer  the  soIemnLsation  of  their  nuptials  until  her 
parent  shouli  be  pronounced  out  of  danger,  and,  having  obtained  his  consent 
to  delay,  instantly  set  oS"  for  Michiliimackinac.  accompanied  by  her  cousin 
Clara,  whom  she  had  prevailed  on  the  governor  to  part  -vj-ith  until  her  own 
return.  Hostilities  were  commenced  very  shortly  afterwards,  and,  although 
Major  de  Haldinnir  speedily  recovered  from  liis  illness,  the  fair  cousins  were 
compelled  to  shara  the  common  imprisonment  of  the  garrison. 

"\Vhen  Miss  de  Haldimar  joined  her  more  youtliful  cousin  at  the  window, 
through  which  the  latter  was  gazing  thoughtfully  on  the  scene  before  her,  she 
flung  her  arm  around  her  waist  with  the  protecting  manner  of  a  mother. 
The  mild  blue  eyes  of  Clara  met  those  that  were  fastened  in  tenderness  upon 
her,  and  a  corresiwnding  movement  on  her  part  brought  the  more  matronly 
form  of  her  cousin  into  close  and  affectionate  contact  with  her  own. 

'•  Oh,  Madeline,  what  a  day  is  this  !"  she  exclaimed  ;  "  and  how  of\en  on 
my  bended  knees  have  I  prayed  to  heaven  that  it  might  arrive  !  Dm-  trials 
are  ended  at  last,  and  happiness  and  joy  are  once  more  before  us.  There  is 
the  boat  that  is  to  conduct  us  to  the  vessel,  which,  in  its  tm-n.  is  to  bear  me 
to  the  arms  of  my  dear  father,  and  you  to  those  of  the  lover  who  adores  you. 
How  beautiful  does  that  fabric  appear  to  me  now  !  Never  did  I  feel  half  the 
pleasure  in  sm-veying  it  I  do  at  this  moment." 

"  Dear,  dear  girl !"  exclaimed  Miss  de  Haldimar,  and  she  pressed  her  closer 
and  in  silence  to  her  heart ;  then,  after  a  slight  pause,  during  which  the  mant- 
ling glow  uj)Ou  her  brow  told  how  deeply  she  desired  the  reunion  alluded  to 
by  her  cousin — ''  that,  indeed,  will  be  an  hour  of  happiness  to  us  both,  Clara  ; 
for  irrevocabl)'  a.s  our  affections  have  been  pledged,  it  would  be  silly  in  the 
extreme  to  deny  that.  I  long  most  ardently  to  be  restored  to  him  who  is 
already  my  husband.  But,  tell  me,"  .she  concluded,  with  an  archness  of  ex- 
pression that  caused  the  long-lashed  eyes  of  her  companion  to  sink  beneath 
her  own,  "  are  you  quite  sincere  in  your  own  case  ?  I  know  how  deeply  you 
love  your  father  and  your  brothers,  but  do  the.s,e  alone  occupy  your  attention  ? 
Is  there  not  a  cerUiin  friend  of  Charles  whom  you  have  some  little  curiosity 
to  see  also  ?" 

"  How  silly,  Madehne  !"  and  the  cheek  of  the  young  girl  became  suffused 
with  a  deeper  glow  ;  "  you  know  I  have  never  seen  this  friend  of  my  brother. 
how  then  can  I  possibly  feel  more  than  the  mo.st  ordinary  interest  in  him  ? 
I  am  disposed  to  Uke  him,  certainly,  fcjr  the  mere  reason  that  Charles  does ; 
but  this  is  all." 

•'  Well,  Clara,  I  will  not  pretend  to  decide;  but  certain  it  is,  this  is  the  last 
letter  you  received  from  Charles,  and  that  it  contains  the  strongest  recommen- 
dations of  his  friend  to  your  notice.  Equally  certain  is  it.  that  scarcely  a 
day  has  passed,  since  we  have  been  shut  up  here,  that  you  have  not  perused 
and  re-perused  it  half  a  dozen  times.  Now,  as  I  am  confessedly  one  who 
should  know  something  of  these  matters,  I  must  be  suffered  to  pronounce 
these  are  strong  symptoms,  to  say  the  very  least.  Ah  !  Clara,  that  blush  de- 
clares you  guilty.     But  who  have  we  here?     Middleton  and  Baynton." 

The  eyes  of  the  cousins  now  fell  upon  the  ramparts  immetUately  under  the 
window.  Two  ofBcers,  one  apparently  on  duty  for  the  day,  were  passing  at 
the  moment ;  and.  as  they  heard  their  names  pronounced,  stopped,  looked  up, 
and  saluted  the  young  ladies  with  that  easy  freedom  of  manner,  which,  un- 
mixed with  either  disrespect  or  effrontery,  so  usually  characterises  the  address 
of  military  men. 


128  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy, 

"  What  a  contrast,  by  heaven  !"  exclaimed  he  who  wore  the  badge  of  duty 
suspended  over  his  chest,  throwing  himself  playfully  into  a  theatrical  attitude, 
expressive  at  once  of  admiration  and  surprise,  while  his  eye  glanced  intelli- 
gently over  the  fair  but  dissimilar  forms  of  the  cousins.  "  Venus  and  Psyche 
in  the  land  of  the  Pottowatamies,  by  all  that  is  magnificent !  Come,  Middle- 
ton,  quick,  out  with  that  eternal  pencil  of  yours,  and  perform  your  promise." 

"  And  what  may  that  promise  be  ?"  asked  Clara,  laughingly,  and  without 
adverting  to  the  hyperbolical  compliment  of  the  dark-eyed  officer  who  had 
just  spoken. 

"  You  shall  hear,"  pursued  the  lively  captain  of  the  guard.  "  While  mak- 
ing the  tour  of  the  ramparts  just  now,  to  visit  my  sentries,  I  ^w  Middleton 
leaning  most  sentimentally  against  one  of  the  boxes  in  front,  his  note  book  in 
one  hand  and  his  pencil  in  the  other.  Curious  to  discover  the  subject  of  his 
abstraction,  I  stole  ca,utiously  behind  him,  and  saw  that  he  was  sketching  the 
head  of  a  tall  and  rather  handsome  squaw,  who,  in  the  midst  of  a  hundred 
others,  was  standing  close  to  the  gateway  watching  the  preparations  of  the 
Indian  ball  players.  I  at  once  taxed  him  with  having  lost  his  heart ;  and 
rallying  him  on  his  bad  taste  in  devoting  his  pencil  to  any  thing  that  had 
a  red  skin,  never  combed  its  hair,  and  turned  its  toes  in  while  walking,  pro- 
nounced his  sketch  to  be  an  absolute  fright.  Well,  will  you  believe  what  I 
have  to  add  ?  The  man  absolutely  flew  into,  a  tremendous  passion  with  me, 
and  swore  that  she  was  a  Venus,  a  Juno,  a  Minerva,  a  beauty  of  the  first 
water  in  short ;  and  finished  by  promising,  that  when  t  could  point  out  any 
woman  A\'ho  was  superior  to  her  in  personal  attractions,  he  would  on  the  in- 
stant write  no  less  than  a  dozen  consecutive  sonnets  in  her  praise.  I  now  call 
upon  hira  to  fulfil  his  promise,  or  maintain  the  superiority  of  his  Indian 
beauty." 

Before  the  laughing  Middleton  could  find  time  to  reply  to  the  light  and 
nnmeaniug  rattle  of  his  friend,  the  quick  low  roll  of  a  drum  was  heard  from 
the  front.  The  signal  was  understood  by  both  officers,  and  they  prepared  to 
depart. 

"  This  is  the  hour  appointed  for  the  council,"  said  Captain  Baynton,  look- 
ing at  his  watch,  '"  and  I  must  be  with  my  guard,  to  receive  the  chiefs  with 
becoming  honor.  How  I  pity  you,  Middleton,  who  will  have  the  infliction  of 
One  of  their  gre^it  big  talks,  as  Murphy  would  call  it,  dinned  into  yom-  ear 
for  the  next  two  hours  at  least !  Thank  heaven,  my  tour  of  duty  exempts 
me  from  that ;  and  by  way  of  killing  an  hour,  I  think  I  shall  go  and  carry 
on  a  flirtation  with  your  Indian  Minerva,  alias  Venus,  alias  Juno,  while  you 
are  discussing  the  affairs  of  the  nation  with  closed  doors.  But  hark  !  there 
is  the  assembly  drum  again.  We  must  be  oft'.  Come,  Middleton,  come. 
Adieu  !"  waving  his  hand  to  the  cousins,  "  we  shall  meet  at  dinner." 

"  What  an  incessant  talker  Baynton  is !"  observed  Miss  de  Haldimar,  as 
the  young  men  now  disappeared  round  an  angle  of  the  rampart ;  "  but  he 
has  reminded  me  of  what  I  had  nearly  forgotten,  and  that  is  to  give  orders 
for  dinner.  My  father  has  invited  all  the  officers  to  dine  with  him  to-day,  in 
commemoration  of  the  peace  which  is  being  concluded.  It  will  be  the  first 
time  we  shall  have  all  met  together  since  the  commencement  of  this  cruel 
war,  and  we  must  endeavor,  Clara,  to  do  honor  to  the  feast." 

"  I  hope,"  timidly  observed  her  cousin,  shuddering  as  she  spoke,  ''that  none 
of  those  horrid  chiefs  will  be  present,  Madeline  ;  for,  without  any  affectation 
of  fear  whatever,  I  feel  that  I  could  not  so  far  overcome  my  disgTist  as  to  sit 
at  the  same  table  with  them.  There  was  a  time,  it  is  true,  when  I  thought 
nothing  of  these  things ;  but,  since  the  war  I  have  witnessed  and  heard  so 
much  of  their  horrid  deeds,  that  I  shall  never  be  able  to  endure  the  sight  of 
an  Indian  face  again.  Ah  !"  she  concluded,  turning  her  eyes  upon  the  lake, 
while  she  clung  more  closely  to  the  embrace  of  her  companion ;  '•  would  to 
heaven,  Madeline,  that  we  were  both  at  this  moment  gliding  in  yonder  vessel, 
aottd  in  sight  of  my  father's  fort !" 


wacousta;    dk,    thk    prophecy.  129 


CHAPTER  XVn. 

The  eyes  of  Miss  do  Ilaldimar  followed  those  of  her  cousin,  and  rested  on 
the  dark  hull  of  the  schooner,  with  which  so  many  recollections  of  the  past 
and  anticipations  of  the  future  were  associated  in  their  minds.  AVhcn  they 
had  last  looked  upon  it,  all  appearance  of  human  life  had  vanished  from  its 
decks ;  but  now  there  was  strong  evidence  of  unusual  bustle  and  activity. 
Numerous  persons  could  be  seen  moving  hastily  to  and  fro,  their  heads  just 
peering  above  the  bulwarks ;  and  presently  they  beheld  a  small  boat  move 
from  the  ship's  side,  and  shoot  rapidly  ahead,  in  a  direct  line  with  the  well- 
known  bearings  of  the  Sinclair's  course.  While  thej^  continued  to  gaze  on 
this  point,  following  the  course  of  the  light  vessel,  and  forming  a  variety  of 
conjectures  as  to  the  cause  of  a  movement,  especially  remarkable  from  the 
circumstance  of  the  commander  being  at  that  moment  in  the  fort,  whither  he 
had  been  summoned  to  attend  the  council,  another  and  scarcely  perceptible 
object  was  dimly  seen,  at  the  distance  of  about  half  a  mile  in  front  of  the 
boat.  With  the  aid  of  a  telescope,  which  had  formed  one  of  the  principal  re- 
sources of  the  cousins  during  their  long  imprisonment,  Miss  de  Haldimar  now 
perceived  a  dark  and  shapeless  mass  moving  somewhat  heavily  along  the  lake, 
and  in  a  hue  with  the  schooner  and  the  boat.  This  was  evidently  approach- 
ing ;  for  each  moment  it  loomed  larger  upon  the  hazy  water,  increasing  in 
biilk  in  the  same  proportion  that  the  departing  skiff  became  less  distinct : 
still,  it  was  impossible  to  discover,  at  that  distance,  in  what  manner  it  was 
propelled.  Wind  there  was  none,  not  as  much  as  would  have  changed  the 
course  of  a  feather  dropping  through  space;  and,  except  where  the  dividing 
oars  of  the  boatmen  had  agitated  the  waters,  the  whole  surface  of  the  lake 
was  like  a  sea  of  pale  and  liquid  gold. 

At  length  the  two  dark  bodies  jnet.  and  the  men  in  the  boat  were  seen  to 
lie  upon  their  oars,  while  one  in  the  stern  seemed  to  be  in  the  act  of  attaching 
a  rope  to  the  formless  matter.  For  a  few  moments  there  was  a  cessation  of 
all  movement ;  and  then  again  the  active  and  sturdy  rowing  of  the  boatmen 
was  renewed,  and  with  an  exertion  of  strengtli  even  more  vigorous  than  that 
they  had  previously  exhibited.  Their  course  was  now  directed  towards  the 
vessel :  and  as  it  gradually  neared  that  fabric,  the  rope  by  which  the  strange 
looking  object  was  secured,  could  be  distinctly  though  faintly  seen  with  the 
telescope.  It  was  impossible  to  say  whether  the  latter,  whatever  it  might  be, 
was  ui-ged  by  somo  invisible  means,  or  mereh'  floated  in  the  wake  of  the 
boat ;  for,  although  the  waters  thi'ough  which  it  passed  ran  rippling  and 
foaming  from  their  course,  this  effect  might  have  been  produced  by  the  boat 
which  preceded  it.  As  it  now  approached  the  vessel,  it  presented  the  appear- 
ance of  a  dense  wood  of  evergreens,  the  overlianging  branches  of  which  de- 
scended close  to  the  water's  edge,  and  baffled  every  attempt  of  the  cousins  to 
discover  its  true  character,  the  boat  had  now  arrived  within  a  hundred 
yards  of  the  schooner,  when  a  man  was  seen  to  rise  from  its  bows,  and  put- 
ting both  his  hands  to  his  mouth,  after  the  manner  of  sailoi's  in  hailing,  to 
continue  in  that  position  for  some  moments,  apparently  conversing  with  those 
who  were  grouped  along  the  nearest  gangway.  Then  were  observed  rapid 
movements  on  the  decks;  and  men  were  seen  hastening  aloft,  and  standing 
out  upon  the  foremost  yards.  This,  however,  had  offered  no  intenuption  to 
the  exertions  of  the  boatmen,  who  still  kept  plying  with  a  vigor  that  set  even 
the  sailless  vessel  in  motion,  as  the  foaming  water,  thrown  from  their  bending 
oar-blades,  dashed  angrily  against  her  prow.  Soon  afterwards.  UAh  the  boat 
and  her  prize  disappeared  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  schooner,  which  now 
lying  with  her  broadside  immediately  on  a  line  with  the  shore,  completely 
hid  them  from  the  further  view  of  the  cousins. 

"  Look  ! — Look  !"  said  Clara,  chnging  sensitivelv  and  with  alarm  to  the  al- 
9 


130      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

most  maternal  bosom  against  which  she  reposed,  while  she  pointed  with  her 
finger  to  another  dark  mass  that  was  moving  through  the  lake  in  a  circular 
sweep  from  the  point  of  wood  terminating  the  clearing  on  the  right  of  the 
fort. 

Miss  de  Haldimar  threw  the  glass  on  the  object  to  which  her  attention  was 
now  directed.  It  was  evidently  some  furred  animal,  and  presented  all  the  ap- 
pearance either  of  a  large  water-rat  or  a  beaver,  the  latter  of  which  it  was 
pronounced  to  be  as  a  nearer  approach  rendered  its  shape  more  distinct. 
Ever  and  anon,  too,  it  disappeared  altogether  under  the  water  ;  and  when  it 
again  came  in  sight,  it  was  always  several  yards  nearer.  Its  course,  at  first 
circuitous,  at  length  took  a  direct  line  with  the  stern  of  the  boat,  where  the 
sailor  who  was  in  charge  still  lay  extended  at  his  drowsy  length,  his  tarpaulin 
hat  shading  his  eyes,  and  his  arms  folded  over  his  uncovered  chest,  while  he 
continued  to  sleep  as  profoundly  as  if  he  had  been  comfortably  berthed  in  his 
hammock  in  the  middle  of  the  Atlantic. 

"  What  a  large  bold  animal  it  is,"  remarked  Clara,  in  the  tone  of  one  who 
wishes  to  be  confirmed  in  an  impression  but  indifferently  entertained.  "  See 
how  close  it  approaches  the  boat !  Had  that  lazy  sailor  but  his  wits  about 
Mm,  he  might  easily  knock  it  on  the  head  with  his  oar.  It  is — it  is  a  beaver, 
Madeline  ;  I  can  disting-uish  its  head  even  with  the  naked  eye." 

"  Heaven  grant  it  may  be  a  beaver,"  answered  Miss  de  Haldimar,  in  a  voice 
so  deep  and  full  of  meaning,  that  it  made  her  cousin  start  and  turn  paler 
even  than  before.  "  Nay,  Clara,  dearest,  command  yourself,  nor  give  way  to 
what  may,  after  all,  prove  a  groundless  cause  of  alarm.  Yet  I  know  not  how 
it  is,  my  heart  misgives  me  sadly ;  for  I  like  not  the  motions  of  this  rnimal, 
which  are  strangely  and  unusually  bold.  But  this  is  not  all :  a  beaver  or  a 
rat  might  ruffle  the  mere  surface  of  the  water,  j^et  this  leaves  behind  it  a  deep 
and  gurgling  furrow,  as  if  the  element  had  been  ploughed  to  its  very  bottom. 
Observe  how  the  lake  is  agitated  and  discolored  wherever  it  has  passed. 
Moreover,  I  dislike  this  sudden  biistle  on  board  the  schooner,  knowing,  as  I 
do,  there  is  not  an  officer  present  to  order  the  movements  now  visibly  going 
forward.  The  men  are  evidently  getting  up  the  anchor ;  and  see  how  her 
sails  are  loosened,  apparently  courting  the  breeze,  as  if  she  would  fly  to  avoid 
some  threatened  danger.  Would  to  heaven  this  council  scene  were  over ;  for 
I  do,  as  much  as  yourself,  dearest  Clara,  distrust  these  cruel  Indians." 

A  significant  gesture  from  her  trembling  cousin  again  drew  her  attention 
from  the  vessel  to  the  boat.  The  animal,  which  now  exhibited  the  delicate 
and  glossy  fur  of  the  beaver,  had  gained  the  stern,  and  remained  stationary 
within  a  foot  of  her  quarter.  Presently  the  sailor  made  a  sluggish  move- 
ment, turning  himself  heavily  on  his  side,  and  with  his  face  towards  his  curi- 
ous and  daring  visitant.  In  the  act  the  tarpaulin  had  fallen  from  his  eyes, 
but  still  he  awoke  not.  Scarcely  had  he  settled  himself  in  his  new  position, 
when,  to  the  infinite  horror  of  the  excited  cousins,  a  naked  human  hand  was 
raised  from  beneath  the  siu-ftice  of  the  lake,  and  placed  upon  the  gunwale  of 
the  boat.  Then  rose  slowly,  and  still  covered  with  its  ingenious  disguise,  first 
the  neck,  then  the  shoulders,  and  finally  the  form,  even  to  the  midwaist,  of  a 
dark  and  swarthy  Indian,  who,  stooping  low  and  cautiously  over  the  sailor, 
now  reposed  the  liand  that  had  quitted  the  gunwale  upon  his  form,  wliile  the 
other  was  thrust  searchingly  into  the  belt  encircling  his  waist. 

Miss  de  Haldimar  would  have  called  out,  to  apprise  the  unhappy  man  of 
his  danger ;  but  lier  voice  refused  its  office,  and  her  cousin  was  even  less  capa- 
ble of  exertion  than  herself.  The  deep  tiirobbings  of  their  hearts  were  now 
audible  to  each ;  for  the  dreadful  interest  they  took  in  the  scene,  had  excited 
their  feelings  to  the  most  intense  stretch  of  agony.  At  the  veiy  moment, 
however,  when,  with  almost  suspended  animation,  they  expected  to  see  the 
knife  of' the  savage  driven  into  the  chest  of  the  sleeping  and  unsuspecting 
sailor,  the  latter  suddenly  started  up,  and  instinct  with  the  full  sense  of  the 
danger  hj  which  he  was  menaced,  in  less  time  than  we  take  to  describe  it. 


vvacousta;    or,    the    prophecy.  131 

seized  the  tiller  of  his  rudder,  the  only  available  inslrument  witliin  his  reach, 
and  directinn-  a  powerful  blow  at  the  head  of  his  amphibious  enemy,  laid  him, 
without  apparent  life  or  motion,  across  the  boat. 

"  Almi!j,hty  (iod  !  what  can  this  mean  ?"  exdaimed  Miss  de  ITaldimar,  as 
soon  as  slic  could  recover  her  presence  of  mind.  "There  is  some  fearful 
treachery  in  aji,itation  ;  and  a  cloud  now  hangs  over  all  that  will  soon  burst 
with  irresistible  fury  on  our  devoted  heads.  Clara,  my  love,"  and  she  con- 
ducted the  almost  fainting  girl  to  a  seat,  '"  wait  here  imtil  I  return.  The  mo- 
ment is  critical,  and  my  father  must  be  apprised  of  what  we  have  seen.  Un- 
less the  gates  of  the  fort  are  instantly  closed,  we  are  lost." 

"  Oh,  Madeline,  leav«  me  not  alone,"  entreated  the  sinking  Clara.  "  We 
will  go  together.     Perhaps  I  may  be  of  service  to  you  below." 

"  The  thought  is  good  ;  but  have  you  strength  and  courage  to  face  the 
daxk  chiefs  in  the  council-room.  If  so,  hasten  there,  and  put  my  father  on 
Ms  guard,  while  I  fly  across  the  parade,  and  warn  Captain  Baynton  of  the 
danger." 

With  these  words  she  drew  the  arm  of  her  agitated  cousin  within  her  own, 
and,  rapidly  traversing  the  apartment,  gained  the  bed-room  which  opened 
close  upon  the  head  of  the  principal  staircase.  Already  were  they  descending^ 
the  first  steps,  when  a  loud  cry,  that  sent  a  thrill  of  terror  through  their 
blood,  was  heard  from  without  the  fort.  For  a  moment  Miss  de  Haldlmar 
continued  irresolute ;  and  leaning  against  the  rude  balustrade  for  support, 
passed  her  hand  rapidly  across  her  brow,  as  if  to  collect  her  scattered  energies. 
The  necessity  for  prompt  and  immediate  action  was,  however,  evident ;  and 
she  alone  was  capable  of  exertion.  Speechless  with  alarm,  and  trembling  in 
every  joint,  the  unhappy  Clara  had  now  lost  all  command  of  her  limbs ;  and, 
clinging  close  to  the  side  of  her  cousin,  by  her  wild  looks  alone  betrayed 
consciousness  had  not  wholly  deserted  her.  The  energy  of  dtjspair  lent  more 
than  woman's  strength  to  Miss  de  Haldimar.  She  caught  the  fainting  girl  in 
her  arms,  retraced  her  way  to  the  chamber,  and  depositing  her  burden  on  the 
bed,  emphatically  enjoined  her  on  no  account  to  move  until  her  return.  She 
then  quitted  the  room,  and  rapidly  descended  tlie  staircase. 

For  some  moments  all  was  still  and  hushed  as  the  waveless  air ;  and  then 
again  a  loud  chorus  of  shouts  was  heard  from  iht'  rani]),irts  of  the  fort.  The 
choked  breathing  of  the  young  girl  became  more  Ir  •■,  ;;!id  tlie  Mo-hI  rushed 
once  more  from  her  oppressed  heart  to  the  cxtreinilies.  Never  did  tones  of 
the  human  voice  fall  more  gratefully  on  t\K;  e;n- of  uuu-iner  cast  on  some  desert' 
island,  than  did  those  on  that  of  the  highly  excitL'd  Clara.  It  was  the  loud 
laugh  of  the  soldiery,  who,  collected  along  the  line  of  rampart  in  front,  were 
watching  the  progress  of  the  ball-players.  Cheered  by  the  welcome  sounds, 
she  raised  herself  from  the  bed  to  satisfy  Ler  eye  her  ear  had  not  deceived 
her.  The  windows  of  both  bed-chambers  looked  iinincdiately  on  the  barrack 
square,  and  commanded  a  full  view  of  the  priiiciital  entrame.  I'rom  that  at 
which  she  now  stood,  the  revived  but  still  anxious  girl  couhl  distinctly  see  all 
that  was  passing  in  front.  The  ramparts  were  covered  with  soldiers,  who, 
armed  merely  with  their  bayonets,  stood  grouped  in  careless  attitudes — some 
with  tlu'ir  wives  leaning  on  their  arms — otliers  with  their  children  upraised, 
that  the  V  lui^lil  the  better  observe  the  enlivening  sports  without — some  lay 
indolently  with  thi'ir  legs  overhanging  tlie  .'.orlvs— others,  assuming  pugihstic 
attitudes,  dealt  their  harmless  blows  at  e:ic'i  oiler. — and  all  were  blended 
together,  men,  women,  and  children,  with  ilial  Iieedlessness  of  thought  that 
told  how  little  of  distrust  existed  within  their  breasts.  The  soldiers  of  the 
guard,  too,  exhibited  the  same  air  of  calm  and  unsuspecting  confidence;  some 
walking  to  and  fro  within  the  square,  while  the  greater  portion  cither  mixed 
with  their  comrades  above,  or,  with  arms  folded,  legs  carelessly  crossed,  and 
pipe  in  mouth,  leant  lazily  against  the  gate,  and  gazed  beyond  the  lowered 
drawbridge  on  the  Indian  games. 

A  mountain  weight  seemed  to  have  been  removed  from  the  breast  of  Clarss- 


133      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

at  this  sight,  as  she  now  dropped  upon  her  knees  before  the  window,  and 
raised  her  hands  in  pious  acknowledgment  to  heaven. 

"  Almighty  God,  I  thank  thee,"  she  fervently  exclaimed,  her  eye  once  more 
lighting  up,  and  her  cheek  half  suffused  with  blushes  at  her  late  vague  and 
idle  fears  ;  while  she  embraced,  at  a  single  glance,  the  whole  of  the  gladdening 
and  inspiring  scene.  • 

While  her  soul  was  yet  upturned  whither  her  words,  had  gone  before,  her 
ears  were  again  assailed  by  sounds  that  curdled  her  blood,  and  made  her 
spring  to  her  feet  as  if  stricken  by  a  bullet  through  the  heart,  or  powerfully 
touched  bj'  some  electric  fluid.  It  was  the  well-known  and  devilish  war-cry 
of  the  savages,  ."itartling  the  very  air  through  which  it  passed,  and  falling  like 
a  deadly  blight  upon  the  spirit.  With  a  mechanical  and  desperate  effort  at 
courage,  the  unliappy  cdrl  turned  her  eyes  below,  and  there  met  images  of 
death  in  their  most  ain^iilling  shapes.  Hurry  and  confusion  and  despair  were 
every  where  visible  ;  for  a  band  of  Indians  were  already  in  the  fort,  and  these, 
fast  succeeded  hy  others,  rushed  like  a  torrent  into  the  square,  and  commenced 
their  dreadful  work  of  butchery.  Many  of  the  terrified  soldiers,  withoxit 
thinking  of  drawing  their  bayonets,  flew  down  the  ramparts  in  order  to  gain 
their  respective  block-liouses  for  their  muskets :  but  these  every  where  met 
death  from  the  crashing  tomahawk,  .short  rifle,  or  gleaming  knife ; — others 
who  had  presence  of  mind  sufficient  to  avail  themselves  of  their  only  weapons 
of  defence,  nislii'il  down  in  the  fury  of  desperation  on  the  yelling  fiends,  re- 
solved to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible  ;  and  for  some  minutes  an  obsti- 
nate contest  was  maintairiod  :  but  the  vast  superiority  of  the  Indian  numbers 
triumphed  ;  and  although  the  men  fought  with  all  the  fierceness  of  despair, 
forcing  their  way  to  the  block-houses,  their  mangled  corses  strewed  the  area 
in  everv  direction.  Neither  was  the  horrid  butchery  confined  to  these. 
Women  clinging  to  their  husbands  for  protection,  and,  in  the  recklessness  of 
their  despair^  impeding  the  efforts  of  the  latter  in  their  self-defence — children 
screaming  in  terror,  or  supplicating  mercy  on  their  bended  knees — infants 
clasped  to  their  parents'  breasts,  all  alike  sunk  under  the  unpitying  steel  of 
the  blood-thirsty-savages.  At  the  guard-hnnse  the  principal  stand  had  been 
made;  for  at  the  first  rush  into  the' fort.  I^.'  nun  on  duty  had  gained  their 
station,  and,  having  made  fast  the  bai  i  hm/Ivs,  openeil  their  fire  upon  the 
cnemv-  ^lixod  pele-melc  as  they  were  with  the  Indians,  many  of  the  English 
were  sliot  by  tlieir  own  comrades,  who,  m  the  confusion  of  the  moment,  were 
incapalilo  of  taking  a  cool  and  discriminating  aim.  These,  however,  were 
finally  overcome.  A  band  of  desperate  Indians  rushed  upon  the  main  door, 
and  with  repeated  blows  from  their  tomahawks  and  massive  war-clubs,  .suc- 
ceeded in  demolishing  it,  while  others  diverted  the  fire  of  those  within.  The 
door  once  forced,  the  struggle  was  soon  over.  Every  man  of  the  guard  per- 
ished, and  their  scalpless  and  disfigured  forms  were  thrown  out  to  swell  the 
number  of  those  that  already  deluged  the  square  with  their  blood. 

Even  amid  all  the  horrors  of  this  terrific  scene,  the  agonised  Clara  preserved 
her  consciousness.  The  very  imminence  of  the  danger  endued  her  with  strength 
to  embrace  it  under  all  its  "most  disheartening  aspects ;  and  she.  whose  mind 
had  been  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  powerful  excitement  by  t)ic  mere 
preliminary  threatenings,  was  comparativel}'  collected  under  the  catastrophe 
itself  Death,  certain  death,  to  all,  she  saw  was  inevitable ;  and  while  her  per- 
ception at  once  embraced  tlie  futility  of  all  attempts  at  escape  from  the  general 
doom,  she  snatched  from  despair  the  power  to  follow  its  gloomy  details  with- 
out being  annihilated  under  their  weight. 

The  confusion  of  the  garrison  had  now  reached  its  axjme  of  horror.  The 
shrieks  of  women  and  the  shrill  cries  of  children,  as  they  severally  and  fruit- 
lessly fled  from  the  death  certain  to  overtake  them  in  the  end, — the  cursings 
of  the  soldiers,  the  yellings  of  the  Indians,  the  reports  of  rifles,  and  the  crash- 
ings  of  tomahawks ; — these,  with  the  stamping  of  human  feet  in  the  death 
struggle  maintained  in  the  council-room  below  between  the  chiefs  and  the  offl- 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      133 

cers,  and  which  shook  the  block-house  to  its  very  Ibundation,  all  mixed  up  in 
terrible  chorus  together,  might  have  called  up  a  not  inapt  image  of  hell  to  the 
bewildered  and  confounding  brain.  And  yet  the  sun  shone  in  yellow  lustre, 
and  all  nature  smiled,  and  wore  an  air  of  c;ilm,  as  if  the  accursed  deed  had  had, 
the  sanction  of  heaven,  and  the  spirits  of  light  loved  to  look  upon  the  frightful 
atrocities  then  in  perj.ietration. 

In  the  tirst  distraction  of  her  spirit,  Clara  had  utterly  lost  all  recollection  of 
her  cousin ;  but  now  that  she  had  with  unnatural  desperation,  brought  her 
mind  to  bear  upon  the  fiercest  points  of  the  grim  realty,  she  tui'ned  her  eye 
every  whei-e  amid  the  scene  of  death  in  search  of  the  form  of  her  beloved  Made- 
line, whom  she  did  not  remember  to  have  seen  cross  the  parade  in  pursuance 
of  the  purpose  she  had  named.  AVhile  slie  yvi  ;;ri/.'  il  rciifully  from  the  win- 
dows, loud  bursts  of  mingled  anguisli  iind  t:i: ■  ■.  ih.,il  \\--v>'  alniost  drowned  in 
the  iiercer  yells  with  which  they  were  hlcndeil.  nscemUd  iroiu  the  ground-floor 
of  the  block-house.  These  had  hitherto  li-eu  suppressed,  as  if  the  desperate 
attack  of  the  chiefs  on  the  officers  had  l^eeii  ;)ia<le  with  t-!osed  doors.  Now, 
however,  there  was  an  evident  outburst  of  all  jjarties  into  the  passage ;  and 
there  the  struggle  appeared  to  be  desperately  and  fearfully  maintained.  In 
the  midst  of  that  cJiaotic  scene,  the  loud  and  piercing  shriek  of  a  female  rose 
far  above  th»  discordant  yell  even  of  the  savages.  I'hcie  was  an  instant  of 
pause,  and  then  the  crashing  of  a  skull  was  heard,  am',  the  confusion  was 
greater  than  before ;  shrieks,  and  groans,  and  curses,  and  supplications  rent 
the  air. 

The  fii-st  smgle  shriek  came  from  Madeline  de  Haldimar,  and  vibrated 
through  every  chord  of  the  heart  on  which  it  sank.  Scarcely  conscious  of 
.what  she  did,  Clara,  quitting  the  window,  once  more  gained  the  top  of  the 
staircase,  and  at  the  extremity  of  her  voice  called  on  the  name  of  her  cousin  in, 
the  most  piteous  accents.  She  was  answered  by  a  loud  shout  from  the  yelling^ 
band ;  and  presently  bounding  feet  and  screaming  voices  w  vv<:  ii' j;u'd  ascending  the 
stairs.  The  terrified  girl  fancied  at  the  moment  she  lieaid  a  door  open  on  the 
floor  immediately  below  her,  and  some  one  dart  suddenly  up  uie  tlight  commu- 
nicating mth  the  spot  on  which  she  stood.  Without  waiting  to  satisfy  herself, 
she  rushed  with  all  the  mechanical  instinct  of  self-preservation  back  into  her 
own  apartment.  As  she  passed  the  bed-room  window,  she  glanced  once  more 
hastily  into  the  area  below,  and  there  beheld  a  sight  that,  tilling  her  soul  with 
despair,  paralysed  all  further  exertion.  A  tall  savage  was  bearing  off  the  ap- 
parentl}'  lifeless  form  of  her  cousin  through  the  combatants  in  the  square,  her 
white  dress  stained  all  over  with  blood,  and  her  beautiful  hair  loosened  and 
trailing  on  the  ground.  She  followed  with  her  burning  eyes  until  thej-  passed 
the  drawbrige,  and  finally  disai)peared  beJiind  the  intervening  rampart,  and 
then  flowing  her  head  between  her  hands,  and  sinking  upon  her  knees,  she 
reposed  her  forehead  against  the  sill  of  the  window,  and  awaited  unshrinkingly, 
yet  in  a  state  of  inconceivable  agony,  the  consummation  of  her  own  unhappy 
destiny. 

The  sounds  of  ascending  feet  were  now  heard  in  the  passage  without ;  and 
presently,  while  the  clangor  of  a  thousand  demons  seemed  to  ring  throughout 
the  upper  part  of  the  building,  a  man  rushed  fui'iously  into  the  room.  The 
blood  of  the  young  girl  curdled  in  her  veins.  She  mechanically  grasped  the 
ledge  of  the  window  on  which  her  aching  head  still  reposed,  and  with  her  eyes 
firmly  closed,  to  shut  out  from  view  the  fiend  whose  sight  she  dreaded,  even 
more  than  the  death  which  threatened  her,  quietly  awaited  the  blow  that  was 
to  terminate  at  once  her  misery  and  her  life.  Scarcely,  however,  had  the  feet 
of  the  intruder  pressed  the  sanctuary  of  her  bedchamber,  when  the  heavy  door, 
strongly  studded  with  nails,  was  pushed  rapidly  to,  and  bolt  and  lock  were 
heard  sliding  into  their  several  sockets.  Before  Clara  could  raise  her  head  to 
discover  the  cause  of  this  movement,  she  felt  herself  firmly  secured  in  the 
grasp  of  an  encircling  arm,  and  borne  hastily  through  the  room.  An  instinc- 
tive sense  of  something  worse  even  than  death  now  Hashed  across  the  mind  of 


134  w  AC  OUST  a;    or,    the    prophecy. 

the  uuiiajjjjy  girl ;  and  while  slie  feared  to  unclose  her  eyes,  she  struggled  vio- 
lently to  disengage  herself. 

"  Clara !  dear  Miss  de  Hakliinar,  do  you  not  know  me  ?"  exclaimed  her  sup- 
porter, while  placing  her  for  a  moment  on  a  seat,  he  proceeded  to  secure  the 
fastenings  of  the  second  door,  that  led  from  the  bedchamber  into  the  larger 
apartment. 

Re-assured  by  the  tones  of  a  voice  which,  even  in  that  dreadful  moment  of 
trial  and  destruction,  were  familiar  to  her  ear,  the  trembling  girl  opened  her 
eyes  wildly  upon  her  protector.  A  slight  scream  of  terror  marked  her  painful 
sense  of  recognition.  It  was  Captain  Baynton  whom  she  beheld:  but  how  mi- 
like  the  officer  who  a  few  minutes  before  had  been  conversing  with  her  from 
the  ramparts.  His  fine  hair,  matted  with  blood,  now  hung  loosely  and  dis- 
figui-ingly  over  his  eyes,  and  his  pallid  face  and  brow  were  covered  with  gore 
spots,  the  evident  spatterings  from  the  wounds  of  others  ;  while  a  stream  that 
issued  from  one  side  of  his  head  attested  he  himself  had  not  escaped  unhurt  in 
the  cruel  melee.  A  skirt  and  a  lappel  had  been  torn  from  his  uniform,  which, 
together  with  other  portions  of  his  dress.  v.-ere  now  stained  in  various  parts 
by  the  blood  continually  flowing  from  his  wovmd. 

"  Oh.  Captain  Baynton,"  murmvired  the  fainting  girl,  her  whole  soul  sinking 
within  her,  as  she  gazed  shudderingly  on  his  person.  "  is  there  no  hope  for  us  7 
must  we  die  ?" 

"  No,  by  heaven,  not  while  I  have  strength  to  save  you,"  returned  the  offi- 
cer, with  energy.  ''  If  the  savage  have  not  penetrated  to  the  rear,  we  may  yet 
escape.  I  saw  the  postern  open  just  now,  on  my  passage  round  the  rampart, 
and  the  boat  of  the  schooner  upon  the  strand.  Ha  !"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  flew 
to  the  window,  and  cast  his  eye  rapidly  below,  '"  we  are  lost !  The  gate  is  stiU 
dear,  and  not  an  Indian  to  be  seen ;  "but  the  coward  sailor  is  pulling  for  his' 
life  towards  the  vessel.  But  hold  !  another  boat  is  now  quitting  the  ship's 
side.  See,  how  manfully  they  give  themselves  to  the  oars  ;  in  a  few  minutes 
they  will  be  here.  Come,  Clara,  let  us  fly  !"  and  again  he  caught  her  up  in 
his  arms,  and  bore  her  across  the  room.  '•  Hark,  hear  you  not  the  exulting 
yellings  of  the  monsters  ?  They  are  forcing  the  outer  door :  mark  how  they 
redouble  their  efforts  to  break  it  open !  That  passed,  but  one  more  barrier 
remains  between  us  and  inevitable  and  instant  death." 

"And  my  cousin,  my  imcle !"  shrieked  the  unhappy  girl,  as  the  officer  now 
bore  her  rapidly  down  the  back  staircase. 

"  Oh,  ask  me  not !"  exclaimed  Baynton  :  '•  were  I  to  linger  again  on  all  I 
have  witnessed,  I  should  go  mad.     All,  all  have  perished  !  but,  hark  !" 

A  tremendous  yell  now  bursting  from  the  passage,  announced  at  once  the 
triumph  of  the  savages  in  having  effected  an  entrance  into  the  bed-room,  and 
their  disappointment  at  finding  their  pursuit  baulked  by  a  second  door.  Pre- 
sently afterwards  their  heavy  weapons  were  to  be  heard  thundering  at  this 
new  obstacle,  in  the  most  furious  manner.  This  gave  new  stimulus  to  the  ex- 
ertions of  the  generous  officer.  Each  winding  of  the  staircase  was  familiar  to 
him,  and  he  now  descended  it  with  a  rapiditj^  which,  considering  the  burden 
that  reposed  against  his  chest,  could  only  have  been  inspired  by  his  despair. 
The  flight  terminated  at  a  door  that  led'  directly  upon  the  rampart,  without 
communicating  with  any  of  the  passages  of  the  building  ;  and  in  this  consist- 
ed the  principal  facility  of  escape :  for,  in  order  to  reach  them,  the  savages 
must  either  make  the  circuit  of  the  block-house,  or  overtake  them  in  the 
<»urse  they  were  now  following.  In  this  trying  emergency,  the  presence  of 
mind  of  the  young  officer,  wounded  and  bleeding  as  he  was,  did  not  desert  him. 
On  quitting  the  larger  apartment  above,  he  had  secured  the  outside  fastenings 
of  a  small  door  at  the  top  of  the  stairs,  and  having  now  gained  the  bottom, 
he  took  a  similar  precaution.  All  that  remained  was  to  unclose  the  bolts  of 
the  ponderous  door  that  opened  upon  their  final  chance  of  escape  :  this  was 
speedily  done,  but  here  the  feelings  of  the  officer  were  put  to  a  severe  test.  A 
rude  partition  divided  him  from  the  fatal  councH-ioora  ;  and  while  he  undid 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      O  U  ,     T  H  t     PROPHECY.  135 

the  tkstoiiings,  the  foint  and  dying  groans  of  his  butchered  brother  officers 
run?-  in  his  cars,  even  at  the  moment  that  he  felt  his  feet  dabbling  in  the 
blood  that  oozed  through  tlie  imperfectly  closed  planks  of  which  the  partition 
was  composed.  As  for  Clara,  she  was  insensible  to  all  that  was  passing. 
From  the  moment  of  the  Indian  yell,  announcing  their  entry  mto  the  bed- 
room, she  had  fainted. 

The  huge  door  came  now  creaking  back  upon  its  hinges,  when  the  sounds 
of  the  yet  unfinished  couilict  in  front,  which  had  hitherto  been  deadened  in 
their  descent  through  the  remote  staircase,  rang  once  more  riorcely  and  start- 
lingly  upon  the  ear.  A  single  glance  satisfied  Captain  Baynton  the  moment 
for  exertion  was  come,  and  that  the  way  to  the  lake  shore,  which,  by  some 
strange  oversight,  both  the  Indians  and  the  men  had  overlooked,  was  pei-fect- 
ly  clear.  He  clasped  his  unconscious  burden  closer  to  his  chest,  ami  then, 
setting  his  life  upon  the  cast,  hastened  dovv^n  the  few  steps  that  led  to  the 
rampart,  and  dashed  rapidly  through  the  postern ;  in  the  next  mmute  he 
stood  on  the  uttermost  verge  of  the  sands,  unharmed  and  unfoUowed.  He 
cast  his  eyes  anxiously  along  the  surface  of  the  lake ;  but  such  was  the  ex- 
citement and  confusion  of  his  mind,  produced  by  the  horrid  recollection  of 
the  past  scene,  it  was  not  until  he  had  been  abruptly  hailed  from  it,  he  could 
see  a  boat,  at  the  distance  of  about  two  hundred  yards,  the  crew  of  which  were 
lying  on  their  oars.  It  was  the  long-boat  of  the  schooner,  which,  prevented 
from  a  nearer  ap])roach  by  a  sand  bar  that  ran  along  the  lake  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  had  taken  her  station  there  to  receive  the  fugitives.  Two  tall 
young  men  in  the  dress,  yet  having  little  the  mien,  of  common  sailors,  were 
standing  up  in  her  stern  ;  and  one  of  these,  with  evident  anxiety  in  his  manner, 
called  on  Baynton  by  name  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  to  the  boat.  At  that 
moment  a  loud  and  frantic  yell  came  from  the  block-house  the  latter  had  just 
quitted.  In  the  wild  impulse  of  his  excited  feelings,  he  answered  with  a  cheer 
of  defiance,  as  he  turned  to  discover  the  precise  point  whence  it  proceeded.  The 
windows  of  the  apartment  so  recently  occupied  by  the  unhappy  cousins,  were 
darkened  with  savage  forms,  who  now  pealed  forth  their  mingled  fury  and 
disappointment  in  the  most  terrific  manner. 

"  Fly,  iiy,  Baynton,  or  you  are  lost !"  exclaimed  the  same  voice  from  the 
boat ;  '•  the  devils  are  levelling  from  the  windows." 

While  he  yet  spake,  several  shots  came  whizzing  along  the  water.i,  and  a 
spent  ball  even  struck  the  now  rapidly  fleeing  officer  in  the  back ;  but  the 
distance  was  too  great  for  serious  injury.  The  guns  of  the  savages  had  been 
cut  so  short  for  their  desperate  enterprise,  that  they  carried  little  further  than 
a  horse  pistol. 

Again,  in  the  desperation  of  liis  feelings,  and  heedless  of  the  danger  he  was 
drawing  on  himself  ami  (linrinj.  the  oiticer  turned  fiercely  round  and  shouted, 
at  his  utmost  lunus,  a  peal  of  triunipli  in  the  ears  of  his  enemies.  Scarcel}'-, 
however,  had  the  sounds  escaped  his  lips,  when  two  hideously  painted  Indians 
sprang  through  the  postern,  and,  silent  a,s  tlie  spectres  they  resembled,  rushed 
down  the  sands,  and  tlience  into  tlie  lake.  Loud  shouts  from  the  windows 
above  were  again  pealed  forth,  and  from  the  consternation  visible  on  the  f.'a- 
turcs  of  those  within  the  boat,  the  nearly  exhausted  Baynton  learned  all  the 
•risk  he  incurred.  Summoning  all  his  strength,  he  now  made  the  most  des- 
perate efforts  to  reach  his  friends.  The  lake  was  little  more  than  knee  deep 
from  the  .shore  to  the  bar,  but,  encumbered  as  he  was,  the  difllculty  opposed 
to  his  movements  was  immeasurably  against  him,  and  yet  he  seemed  gene- 
rou.sly  resolved  rather  to  perish  than  relimniisli  iiis  rliarue.  Ahrady  were 
his  pursuers,  now  closely  followed  by  a  nnni' rous  band,  wiUiin  twenty  yards 
of  him,  when  the  two  young  men,  each  armed  with  a  cutlass  and  pistol,  sprang 
from  the  boat  upon  the  sand  bar :  as  the  Indians  came  on  they  fired  delibe- 
rately at  them,  but  both  missed  their  aim.  Encouraged  by  this  failure,  the 
fearlcvss  devils  dashed  eagerly  on,  brandishing  their  gleaming  tomahawks,  but 


136  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

utterinj?  not  a  sound.     Already  was  the  unfortunate  Baynton  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  bar,  when  he  felt  that  the  savages  were  immediately  upon  him. 

"  Take,  take,  for  God's  sake,  take  her !"  he  cried  as  with  a  desperate  effort 
he  threw  the  light  form  of  the  still  unconscious  girl  into  the  arms  of  one  of 
the  young  men.     "  My  strength  is  quite  exhausted,  and  I  can  do  no  more." 

For  the  first  time  a  yell  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  pursuing  savages,  as 
they  saw  him,  to  whom  the  guardianship  of  the  wretched  Clara  was  now  con- 
fided, suddenl}-  spring  from  the  sand  bar  into  the  lake,  and  in  a  few  rapid 
strokes  gain  the  side  of  the  boat.  Leaving  the  hapless  Baynton  to  be  dispos- 
ed of  by  his  companion,  the  foremost  darted  upon  the  bank,  burning  with 
disappointment,  and  resolved  to  immolate  another  victim.  For  a  moment  he 
balanced  his  tomahawk,  and  then  with  the  rapidity  of  thought,  darted  it  at 
the  covered  head  of  the  youth  who  still  hngered  on  the  bar.  A  well-timed 
movement  of  thp  latter  averted  the  blow,  and  the  whizzing  steel  passed  harm- 
lessly on.  A  guttural  "  ugh  !"  marked  the  disappointment  of  the  Indian,  now 
reduced  to  his  scalping-knife  ;  but  before  he  could  determine  whether  to  ad- 
vance or  to  retreat,  his  opponent  had  darted  upon  him,  and  with  a  single  blow 
from  his  cutlass,  cleft  his  skult  nearly  asunder.  The  next  instantaneous  pur- 
pose of  the  victor  was  to  advance  to  the  rescue  of  the  exhausted  Baynton ; 
but,  when  he  turned  to  look  for  him,  he  saw  the  mangled  form  of  what  had 
once  been  that  gallant  and  handsome  officer  floating,  without  life  or  motion,  on 
the  blood-stained  surftxce  of  the  Huron,  while  his  tiendisli  murderer,  calmly 
awaiting  the  approach  of  his  companions,  held  up  the  reeking  scalp,  in  tri- 
umph, to  the  view  of  the  still  yelling  groups  within  the  block-house. 

"  Noble,  generous,  self-devotcd  fellow !"  exclaimed  the  youth,  as  he  fixed 
his  burning  tearless  eye  for  a  moment  on  the  unfortunate  victim  ;  "  even  you, 
then,  are  not  spared  to  tell  the  horrid  story  of  this  butchery  :  yet  is  the  fate 
of  the  fallen  for,  far  more  enviable  than  that  of  those  who  have  siu-vived  this 
day."  He  then  committed  his  cutlass  to  its  sheath :  and,  leaping  into  the 
deep  water  that  lay  beyond  the  bar,  was,  in  a  few  seconds,  once  more  in  the 
stern  of  the  boat. 

Meanwhile,  the  numerous  band,  who  followed  their  two  first  fierce  com- 
rades into  the  lake,  bounded  rapidly  forward :  and,  so  active  were  their  move- 
ments, that,  at  almost  the  same  moment  when  the  second  of  the  youths  had 
gained  his  temporary  place  of  refuge,  they  stood  yelling  and  screaming  on  the 
sand  bar  he  had  just  quitted.  Two  or  three,  excited  to  desperation  by  the 
blood  they  had  seen  spilt,  plunged  unhesitatingly  into  the  opposite  depths  of 
the  lake  ;  and  the  foremost  of  these  was  the  destroyer  of  the  ill-fated  Bayn- 
ton. With  his  bloody  scalping-knife  closely  clutched  between  his  teeth  and 
his  tomahawk  in  his  right  hand,  this  fierce  warrior  buSeted  the  waves  lustily 
with  one  arm,  and  noiselessly,  as  in  the  early  part  of  his  pursuit,  urged  his 
way  towards  the  boat.  In  the  stern  of  this  a  few  planks  from  the  schooner 
had  been  firmly  lashed,  to  serve  as  a  shield  against  the  weapons  of  the  sava- 
ges, and  was  so  arranged  as  to  conceal  all  v>-ithin  while  retiring  from  the 
shore.  A  small  aperture  had,  however,  been  bored  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
serving the  movements  of  the  enemy  without  risk.  Through  this  an  eye  was 
now  directed,  while  only  the  blades  of  the  oars  were  to  be  seen  projecting 
firom  the  boat's  sides  as  they  reposed  in  their  rowlocks.  Encouraged  by  the 
seeming  apathy  and  inertness  of  the  crew,  the  swimming  savages  paused  not 
to  consider  of  consequences,  but  continued  their  daring  course  as  if  they 
apprehended  neither  risk  nor  resistance.  Presently  a  desperate  splash  was 
heard  near  the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  the  sinuous  form  of  the  first  savage 
was  raised  above  the  gunwale,  his  grim  face  looking  devilish  in  its  smeared 
war-paint,  and  his  fierce  eyes  gleaming  and  rolling  like  fire-balls  in  their  sock- 
ets. Scarcely  was  he  seen,  however,  when  he  had  again  disappeared.  A  blow 
from  the  cutlass  that  had  destroyed  his  companion  descended  like  lightning 
on  his  naked  and  hairless  head  ;  and,  in  the  agony  of  death,  he  might  be  seen 
grinding  his  teeth  against  the  knife  which  the  instinctive  ferocity  of  his  natm-e 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      137 

forbtwlc  his  relinquishing.  A  yd\  of  fury  burst  from  the  savages  on  the  bar, 
and  presently  a  shower  of  bullets  Hew  whistling  through  the  air.  Several 
were  heard  striking  the  rude  rampart  in  the  stern  ;  but,  although  the  boat 
was  scarcely  out  of  pistol-shot,  the  thickness  of  the  wood  prevented  injury 
to  those  within.  Another  fierce  yell  followed  this  volley  ;  and  then  nearly  a 
score  of  warriors,  giving  their  guns  in  charge  to  their  companions,  plunged 
furiously  into  the  water ;  and,  with  an  air  of  the  most  infuriated  deterrainar- 
tion,  leaped  rather  than  swam  along  its  surface. 

"Now  then,  my  lads,  give  way,"  said  he  at  the  lookout ;  "there  arc  more 
than  a  dozen  of  the  devils  in  full  cry  ;  and  our  only  chance  is  in  flight !  Ila  ! 
another  here !"  as.  turning  to  issue  these  directions,  he  chanced  to  see  the  dark 
hand  of  a  savage  at  that  moment  grasping  the  gunwale  of  the  boat  as  if  with. 
a  view  to  retard  her  movements  untQ  the  arrival  of  his  companions. 

A  heavy  blow  from  his  cutlass  accompanied  these  words.  "  The  fingers,  di- 
vided at  their  very  roots,  rolled  to  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  and  the  carcass  of 
the  savage  dropped,  with  a  yell  of  anguish,  far  in  the  rear.  The  heavy  oar- 
blades  of  the  seamen  now  made  play,  dashing  the  lake  away  in  sheets  of  foam ; 
and,  in  less  than  five  minutes,  the  heads  of  the  swimming  savages  were  seen 
like  so  many  rats  upon  the  water,  as  they  returned  once  more  in  disappoint- 
ment from  their  fruitless  pursuit. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

The  sun  had  gone  down,  as  he  had  risen,  in  all  the  gloriousness  of  his  au- 
tumnal splendor,  and  twilight  was  now  fast  descending  on  the  waters  of  the 
Huron.  A  slight  breeze  was  just  beginning  to  make  itself  felt  from  the  land, 
the  gradual  rising  of  which  was  hailed  by  many  an  anxious  heart,  as  the 
schooner,  which  had  been  making  vain  attempts  to  quit  her  anchorage  during 
the  day,  now  urged  her  light  bows  through  the  slightly  curling  element.  A 
death-like  silence,  interrupted  only  by  the  low,  gruft'  voice  of  a  veteran  sea- 
man, as  he  issued,  in  technical  language,  the  necessary  orders  for  the  manage- 
ment of  the  vessel,  prevailed  every  where  along  her  decks.  The  dress  and 
general  appearance  of  this  individual  announced  him  for  a  petty  officer  of  the 
royal  service  ;  and  it  was  evident,  from  the  tone  of  authority  with  which  he 
spoke,  he  was  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  temporary  command.  The  crew, 
consisting  of  about  thirty  souls,  and  chiefly  veterans  of  the  same  class,  were 
assembled  along  the  gangways,  each  man  wearing  a  brace  of  pistols  in  the 
belt,  which,  moreover,  secured  a  naked  cutlass  around  his  loins  ;  and  these 
now  lingered  near  the  several  guns  that  were  thrown  out  from  their  gloomy 
looking  ports,  as  if  ready  for  some  active  service.  But,  although  the  arming-^ 
of  these  men  indicated  hostile  preparation,  there  was  none  of  that  buoyancy 
of  movement  and  animation  of  feature  to  be  observed,  which  so  usually  char- 
acterise the  indomitable  daring  of  the  British  sailor.  Some  stood  leaning 
their  heads  pensively  on  their  hands  against  the  rigging  and  hammocks  that 
were  stowed  away  along  the  bulwarks,  after  the  fashion  of  war  ships  in  board- 
ing ;  others,  with  arms  tightly  folded  across  their  chests,  gazed  earnestly  and 
despondingly  on  the  burning  fort  in  the  distance,  amid  the  rolling  volumes  of 
smoke  and  flame  from  which,  ever  and  anon,  arose  the  fiendish  yell  of  those 
who,  having  already  sacked,  were  now  reducing  it  to  ashes.  Nor  was  this 
the  only  object  of  their  attention.  On  the  sand  bank  alluded  to  in  our  last 
chapter  were  to  be  dimly  seen  through  the  growing  dusk,  the  dark  outlines 
of  many  of  the  savages,  who,  frantic  with  rage  at  their  inability  to  devote 
them  to  the  same  doom,  were  still  unwilling  to  quit  a  spot  which  approached 
them  nearest  to  the  last  surviving  objects  of  their  enmity.  Around  this  point 
were  collected  numerous  canoes,  iilled   also  with  vrarriors  ;  and,  at  the  mo- 


13S      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

ment  when  the  vessel  obeying  the  impnlse  given  by  her  flowing  sails,  glided 
from  the  anchorage,  these  followed,  scudding  in  her  w.ike,  and  made  a  show 
of  attacking  her  in  the  stern.  The  sudden  yawing  of  the  schooner,  however, 
in  bringing  her  tier  of  bristling  ports  into  view,  had  checked  the  ardor  of  the 
pursuing  fleet ;  and  the  discharge  of  a  single  gnm,  destro3nng  in  its  coui'se 
three  of  their  canoes,  and  carrying  death  among  those  who  directed  them, 
had  driven  them  back,  in  the  greatest  hurry  and  confusion,  to  their  yelling 
and  disappointed  comrades. 

The  after-deck  of  the  schooner  presented  a  different,  though  not  less  sombre 
and  discouraging  scene.  On  a  pile  of  mattrasses  lay  the  light  and  almost  in- 
animate form  of  Clara  de  Haldimar ;  her  foir  and  redundant  hair  overshadow- 
ing her  pallid  brow  and  cheek,  and  the  dress  she  had  worn  at  the  moment  of 
her  escape  from  the  fort  still  spotted  with  the  blood  of  her  generous  but  un- 
fortunate preserver.  Close  at  her  side,  with  her  hands  clasped  in  his,  while 
he  watched  the  expression  of  deep  suffering  reflected  from  each  set  feature, 
and  yet  with  the  air  of  one  pre-occupied  with  some  other  subject  of  painful 
interest,  sat,  on  an  empty  shot  box,  the  young  man  in  sailor's  attire,  whose 
cutlass  had  performed  the  double  service  of  destroying  his  own  immediate 
opponent,  and  avenging  the  death  of  the  devoted  Baynton.  At  the  head  of 
the  rude  couch,  and  leaning  against  a  portion  of  the  schooner's  stern-work, 
stood  his  companion,  who  from  delicacy  appeared  to  have  turned  away  his 
eyes  from  the  group  below,  merely  to  cast  them  vacantly  on  the  dark  waters 
through  which  the  vessel  was  now  beginning  to  urge  her  course. 

Such  was  the  immediate  position  of  this  little  party,  when  the  gun  fired  at 
the  Indians  was  heard  booming  heavily  along  the  lake.  The  loud  report,  in 
exciting  new  sources  of  alarm,  seemed  to  have  dissipated  the  spell  that  had 
hitherto  chained  the  energies  and  perception  of  the  still  weak,  but  now  highly 
excited  girl. 

"  Oh,  Captain  Baynton,  where  are  we  ?"  she  exclaimed,  starting  up  sud- 
denly in  terror,  and  tlirowing  her  arms  around  him  who  sat  at  her  side,  as  if 
she  would  have  clung  to  him  for  protection.  '•  Is  the  horrid  massacre  not 
finished  3-ct  ?  Where  is  Madeline?  where  is  my  cousin?  Oh,  I  cannot 
leave  the  fort  without  her." 

"  Ha  !  where  indeed  is  she  ?"  exclaimed  the  youth,  as  he  clasped  his  trem- 
bling and  scarcely  conscious  burden  to  his  chevSt,  '"  Almighty  God,  where  ia 
she  ?"  Then,  after  a  short  pause,  and  in  a  voice  of  tender  but  exquisite  anguish, 
"  Clara,  my  beloved  sister,  do  you  not  know  me  1  It  is  not  Baynton  but 
your  brother,  who  now  clasps  you  to  his  breaking  heart." 

A  deluge  of  tears  was  the  only  answer  of  the  wretched  girl.  They  were 
the  first  she  had  shed, — the  first  marks  of  con.sciousness  she  had  exhibited. 
Hitherto  her  heart  had  been  oppressed ;  every  fibre  of  her  brain  racked  al- 
most to  bursting,  and  filled  only  with  ghastly  flitting  visions  of  the  dreadful 
horrors  she  had  seen  perpetrated,  she  had  continued,  since  the  moment  of  her 
fainting  in  the  block-house,  as  one  bereft  of  ail  memory  of  the  past,  or  appre- 
hension of  the  present.  But  now,  the  full  out-pouring  of  her  grief  reheved 
her  overcharged  brain  and  heart,  even  while  the  confused  images  floating  be- 
fore her  recollection  acquired  a  more  tangible  and  painful  character.  She 
raised  herself  a  moment  from  the  breast  on  which  her  burning  head  reposed, 
looked  steadfastly  in  the  face  that  hung  anxiously  over  her  own,  and  saw  in- 
deed that  it  was  her  brother.  She  tried  to  speak,  but  she  could  not  utter  a 
word,  for  the  memory  of  all  that  had  occurred  that  fatal  morning  rushed  with 
mountain  weight  upon  her  fainting  spirit,  and  again  she  wept,  and  more  bit- 
terly than  before. 

The  young  man  pressed  her  in  silence  to  his  bosom ;  nor  v^'as  it  until  she 
had  given  full  vent  to  her  grief,  that  he  ventured  to  address  her  on  the  sub- 
ject of  his  oAvn  immediate  sorrows.  At  length,  when  .she  appeared  somewhat 
calm,  he  observed,  in  a  voice  broken  by  emotion, — 

"  Clara,  dearest  what  account  have  you  to  give  me  of  ^Madeline  ?     Has  she 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      139 

shared  the  fate  of  all?  or  have  you  reason  to  suppose  her  life  has  been 
spared?" 

Another  burst  of  tears  succeeded  to  these  questions,  for  coupled  with  the 
name  of  her  cousin  arose  all  the  horrid  associations  connected  with  her  loss. 
As  soon,  however,  as  she  could  compose  herself,  she  brieil}'  stated  all  she  had 
witnessed  of  the  affair,  from  the  moment  when  the  boat  of  the  schooner  was 
6een  to  meet  the  strange  looking  object  on  the  water,  to  that  when  she  had 
beheld  her  ill-fated  cousin  borne  away  apparently  lifeless  in  the  arms  of  the 
tall  Indian  by  whom  she  had  been  captured. 

During  this  recital  the  heart  of  Captain  de  llaldimar, — for  it  was  he, — beat 
audibly  against  the  cheek  that  still  reposed  on  his  breast ;  ))ut  when  his  sister 
had,  in  a  faint  voice,  closed  her  melancholy  narrative  with  the  manner  of  her 
cousin's  disappearance,  he  gave  a  sudden  start,  uttering  at  the  same  time  an 
exclamation  of  joy. 

"  Thank  God,  she  still  lives  !"  he  cried,  pressing  his  sister  once  more  in  fond- 
ness to  his  heart ;  then  turning  to  his  companion,  who,  although  seemingly 
abstracted,  had  been  a  silent  and  attentive  witness  of  the  scene, — "  By 
heaven  !  Vallctort,  there  is  yet  a  hope.  She  it  was  indeed  whom  we  .saw  borne 
out  of  the  fort,  and  subsequently  made  to  walk  by  the  cruel  Indian  who  had 
charge  of  her." 

"  Valletort,  Valletort,"  murmured  Clara  unconsciously,  her  sick  heart 
throbbing  with  she  knew  not  what.  *'  How  is  this,  Frederick  ? — Where, 
then,  is  Captain  Baynton  ?  and  how  came  you  here  ?" 

"  Alas !  Clara,  poor  B.aynton  is  no  more.  Even  at  the  moment  when  he 
confided  the  unconscious  burden,  preserved  at  the  peril  of  his  own  life,  to  the 
arms  of  Sir  Evcrard  here,  he  fell  beneath  the  tomahawk  of  a  pursuing  savage. 
Poor,  noble,  generous  ]^>aynLon,"  he  continued,  mournfully ;  '•  to  him,  indeed, 
Clara,  are  you  indciited  for  your  life ;  yet  was  it  pm-chased  at  the  price  of  his 
own." 

Again  the  pained  and  affectionate  girl  wept  bitterly,  and  her  brother  pro- 
ceeded : — 

"  The  strange  object  you  saw  on  the  lake,  my  love,  was  nothing  moi'e  than 
a  canoe  disguised  with  leafy  boughs,  in  which  Sir  Everard  Valletort  and  my- 
self, under  the  guidance  of  old  Fran9ois  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis,  whom  you  must 
recollect,  have  made  the  dangerous  passage  of  the  Sinclair  in  the  garb  of  duck 
hunters. — which  latter  we  had  only  discarded  on  reaching  the  schooner,  in 
order  to  assume  another  we  conceived  better  suited  to  our  purpose.  Alas  !" 
and  he  struck  his  hand  violently  against  bis  brow,  •'  had  we  made  directly  for 
the  shore  without  touching  the  vessel  at  all,  there  might  have  be*n  time  to 
save  those  we  came  to  apprise  of  their  danger.  Do  you  not  think  there  was, 
Valletort  ?'= 

'•  Most  assuredly  not,"  returned  his  companion,  anxious  to  remove  the  im- 
pression of  self-blame  that  existed  in  the  mind  of  Captain  de  Haldimar. 
'•  From  the  moment  of  our  renching  the  schooner,  which  lay  immediately  in 
our  route,  to  that  when  the  sliout  was  raised  by  the  sava.ges  as  they  rushed 
into  the  fort,  there  was  scarcely  an  interval  of  three  minutes  ;  and  it  would 
have  required  a  longer  period  to  have  enabled  us  to  gain  the  shore." 

"  Thank,  thank  you  for  that !"  exclaimed  the  officer,  drawing  himself  up 
with  the  air  of  one  who  breathes  more  freely.  "  I  would  not,  for  the  wealth 
and  honors  of  the  united  world,  that  such  a  cause  for  self-reproach  should 
linger  on  my  mind.  By  heaven  !  it  would  break  my  heart  to  think  we  had 
been  in  time  to  save  them,  and  yet  had  lost  the  opportmiity  throur;a  even  one 
moment  of  neglect."  Then  turning  once  more  to  his  sister, — "  Now,  Clara, 
that  I  see  you  in  safety,  I  have  another  saci*ed  duty  to  perform.  I  must  leave 
you,  but  not  alone." 

"  ^Vhat  mean  you,  Frederick  ?"  exclaimed  his  agitated  sister,  clinging  more 
closely  to  his  embrace.  ''  Scarce  have  we  met,  and  you  talk  of  leaving  me. 
Oh,  whither  would  you  go  ?" 


140      wacousta:  or,  the  prophecy, 

"  Surely,  my  love,"  and  he  spoke  half  reproachfully,  although  with  tender- 
ness of  accent,  "  my  meaning  must  be  obvious.  But  what  do  I  say  '?  You 
know  it  not.  jNIadeline  still  lives.  AYe  saw  her,  as  we  pulled  towards  the 
shore,  led  across  the  clearing  in  the  direction  of  Chabouiga.  Hear  me,  then: 
the  canoe  in  which  we  came  is  still  towing  from  the  vessel's  stern,  and  in 
this  do  I  mean  to  embark,  without  further  loss  of  time,  in  search  of  her 
who  is  dearer  to  me  than  existence.  I  know,"  he  pursued  with  emotion, 
"  I  have  but  little  hope  of  rescuing,  even  if  I  do  succeed  in  finding  her :  but 
at  least  I  shall  not  have  to  suffer  undei-  the  self-reproach  of  having  neglected 
the  only  chance  that  now  lies  within  my  reach.     If  she  be  doomed  to  die,  I 

shall  then  have  nothing  left  to  live  for except  you,  Clara,"  lie  continued, 

after  a  pause,  pressing  the  weeping  girl  to  his  heart,  as  he  remarked  how 
much  she  seemed  pained  by  the  declaration. 

Having  placed  his  sister  once  more  on  the  couch,  and  covered  her  with 
a  cloak  that  had  been  brought  from  the  cabin  of  the  unfortunate  commander, 
Captain  de  Haldimar  now  rose  from  his  humble  seat,  and  grasping  the  hand 
of  his  friend, — 

"  Valletort,"  he  said,  "  I  commit  this  dear  girl  to  j'our  keeping.  Hitherto 
we  have  been  equal  sharers  in  an  enterprise  having  for  its  object  the  pre- 
servation of  our  mutual  companions  and  friends.  At  present,  interests  of  a 
more  personal  nature  occupy  my  attention  ;  and  to  these  must  I  devote 
myself  alone.  I  trust  you  will  reach  Detroit  in  safety  ;  and  when  you  have 
delivered  my  unfortunate  sister  into  the  arms  of  her  father,  you  will  say  to 
him  from  me,  I  could  not  survive  the  loss  of  that  being  to  whom  I  had 
sworn  eternal  fidelity  and  affection.  Francois  must  be  my  only  companion 
on  this  occasion.  Nay,"  he  continued,  pointing  to  his  sister,  in  answer  to  the 
rising  remonstrance  of  the  baronet,  "  will  you  desert  the  precious  charge  I 
have  confided  to  your  keeping  ?  Recollect,  Valletort,"  in  a  more  subdued 
tone,  "  that  besides  yourself,  there  will  be  none  near  her  but  rude  and  unedu- 
cated sailors  ; — honest  men  enough  in  their  way,  it  is  true  ;  but  not  the  sort 
of  people  to  Avhom  I  should  like  to  confide  my  poor  sister." 

The  warm  and  silent  pressure  by  Sir  Everard  of  his  hand  announced  his 
participation  in  the  sentiment ;  and  Captain  de  Haldimar  now  hastened  for- 
ward to  apprise  the  Canadian  of  his  purpose.  He  found  mine  host  of  the 
Fleur  de  Lis  seated  in  the  forecastle  of  the  schooner  ;  and  with  an  air  of  the 
most  perfect  unconcern  discussing  a  substantial  meal,  consisting  of  dried  un- 
cooked venison,  raw  onions,  and  Indian  corn  bread,  the  contents  of  a  large 
bag  or  wallet  that  lay  at  his  feet.  No  sooner,  however,  had  the  impatient 
officer  communicated  his  design,  asking  at  the  same  time  if  he  m.ight  expect 
his  assistance  in  the  enterprise,  than  the  unfinished  meal  of  the  Canadian  was 
discontinued,  the  wallet  refilled,  and  the  large  greasy  clasp-knife  with  which 
the  portions  had  been  separated,  closed  and  thrust  into  a  pocket  of  his  blanket 
coat! 

"  I  shall  go  to  de  devils  for  you,  capitaine,  if  we  must,"  he  said,  as  he  rai.sed 
his  portly  form,  not  without  efibrt,  from  the  deck,  slapping  the  shoulder  of  the 
oflicer  at  the  same  time  somewhat  rudely  with  his  hand.  There  was  nothing, 
however,  ofi'ensively  familiar  in  this  action.  It  expressed  merely  the  devoted- 
ness  of  heart  with  which  the  man  lent  himself  to  the  service  to  which  he  had 
pledged  himself,  and  was  rather  complimentary  than  otherwise  to  him  to 
whom  it  was  directed.  Captain  de  Haldimar  took  it  in  the  light  in  which  we 
have  just  shown  it,  and  he  grasped  and  shook  the  rough  hand  of  the  Canadian 
with  an  earnestness  highly  gratifying  to  the  latter. 

Every  thing  was  now  in  readiness  for  their  departure.  The  canoe,  still 
covered  with  its  streaming  boughs,  was  drawn  close  up  to  the  gangway,  and 
a  few  hasty  necessaries  thrown  in.  While  this  was  passing,  the  officer,  had 
again  assumed  his  disguise  of  a  duck-hunter ;  and  he  now  appeared  in  the 
blanket  costume  in  which  we  introduced  Sir  Everard  and  himself  in  the  elev- 
enth chapter. 


wacousta;    or,    the    proi'Hecy.  141 

"  If  I  may  be  so  bold  as  to  put  in  my  oar,  your  honor," — said  the  veteran 
boatsAvain,  on  whom  the  command  of  the  schooner  had  fallen,  as  he  now  ad- 
vanced, rollings  his  quid  in  liis  mouth,  and  dropping  his  hat  on  his  shoulder, 
while  the  fingers  of  the  hand  which  clutched  it  were  busily  occupied  in 
scratching  his  bald  head, — "•  if  I  may  be  so  bold,  there  is  another  chap  here 
as  might  better  servo  your  honor's  purpose  than  that  'ere  fat  Canadian,  who 
seems  to  think  only  of  stuffing  while  his  betters  are  fasting." 

"  And  who  is  he,  my  goad  Mullins  '?"  asked  Captain  de  Haldimar. 

'•  Why,  that  'ere  Ingian,  your  honor,  as  began  the  butcher\'  in  the  fort, 
yonder,  b}-  trying  to  kill  Jack  Fuller  while  he  laid  asleep  this  morning,  wait- 
ing for  the  captain  in  the  jolly  boat.  Jack  never  seed  him  coming,  until  he 
feft  his  black  hands  upon  his  throat,  and  then  he  ups  with  the  tiller  at  his 
noddle,  and  sends  him  floundering  across  the  boat's  thwarts  like  a  flat-fish.  I 
thought,  your  honor,  seeing  as  how  I  have  got  the  command  of  the  schooner, 
of  tying  him  up  to  the  mainmast,  and  giving  him  two  or  three  round  dozen 
or  so.  and  then  sending  him  to  swim  among  the  mascannungy  with  a  twenty- 
four  pound  shot  in  his  neckcloth ;  but,  seeing  as  how  your  honor  is  going 
among  them  savages  agin,  I  thought  as  how  some  good  might  be  done  with 
him,  if  your  honor  could  contrive  to  keep  him  in  tow,  and  close  under  your 
lee  quarter,  to  prevent  his  escape." 

"  At  all  events,"  returned  the  officei-,  after  a  pause  of  some  moments,  dur- 
ing which  he  appeared  to  be  deliberating  on  his  course  of  action,  '•  it  may  be 
dangerous  to  keep  him  in  the  vessel ;  and  yet,  if  we  take  him  ashore  he  may 
•be  the  means  of  oirr  more  immechate  destruction  ;  unless,  indeed,  as  j'ou  observe, 
he  can  be  so  secured  as  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  escape  ;  but  that  I  very 
much  doubt  indeed.  Where  is  he,  Mullins  ?  I  should  like  to  see  and  ques- 
tion him." 

"  He  .shall  be  up,  your  honor,  in  no  time,"  replied  the  sailor,  once  more  re- 
simiing  his  hat,  and  moving  a  pace  or  two  forward.  Then  addressing  two  or 
three  men  in  the  starboard  : — ■'  Bear  a  hand  there,  my  men,  and  cast  off  the 
lashings  of  that  black  Ingiau,  and  send  him  aft  here,  to  the  officer." 

The  order  was  speedily  executed.  In  a  few  minutes  the  Indian  stood  on 
the  quarter-deck,  his  hands  firmly  secured  behind,  -and  his  head  sunk  upon 
his  chest  in  sullen  despondency.  In  the  increasing  gloom  in  which  objects 
were  now  gradually  becoming  more  and  more  indistinct,  it  was  impossible  for 
Captain  de  Haldhnar  to  distinguish  his  features  ;  but  there  was  something  in 
the  outline  of  the  Indian's  form  th.at  impressed  him  with  the  conviction  he 
had  seen  it  before.  Advancing  a  pace  or  or  two  forward,  he  pronounced,  in  an 
emphatic  and  audible  whisper,  the  name  of  "  Oucanasta  !" 

The  Indian  gave  an  involuntary  start. — uttered  a  deep  iuteijectional  '•  Ugh !" 
— and,  raising  his  head  from  his  chest,  fixed  his  eye  steadily  on  the  officer. 

'•  Ilookynastcr  ! — Hookynaster  !"  growled  Jack  Fuller,  who  had  followed 
to  hear  the  examination  of  his  immediate  captive  :  '"  why,  your  honor,  that 
jaw-breaking  name  reminds  me  as  how  the  chap  had  a  bit  of  a  paper  when  I 
chucked  him  into  the  jolly-boat,  stuck  in  his  girdle.  It  was  covered  over 
■with  pencil-marks,  as  writing  like ;  but  all  was  rubbed  out  agin,  except  some 
such  sort  of  a  name  as  that." 

"Where  is  it? — what  have  you  done  with  it  ?"  hastily  asked  Captain  de 
Haldimar. 

'•  Here,  in  my  backy-box,  your  honor.  I  kept  it  safe,  thinking  as  how  it 
might  sarve  to  let  us  know  all  about  it  afterwards." 

The  .'^ailor  now  drew  from  the  receptacle  ju.st  named  a  dirty  piece  of  folded 
paper,  deeph'  impregnated  with  the  perfume  of  stale  and  oft  re-chewed  quids 
of  course  tobacco  ;  and  then,  with  the  air  of  one  conscious  of  having  •■  rcn- 
derefl  the  state  some  service."  hitched  up  his  trowsers  with  one  hand,  while 
■with  the  other  he  extended  the  important  document. 

To  glance  hivS  eye  hurriedly  over  the  paper  by  the  light  of  a  dark  lanthorn 
tLat  had  meanwhile  been  lirought  uj)on  deck,  unclasp  his  hunting-knife,  and 


J  42 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy 


ilivide  the  ligatures  of  the  captive,  and  then  warmly  press  his  liberated  hands 
with  his  own,  were,  with  Captain  de  Haldimar,  but  the  work  of  a  minute. 

"  tlilloa  !  which  the  devil  way  does  the  wind  blow  now  ?"  muttered  Fuller, 
the  leer  of  self-satisfaction  that  had  hitherto  played  in  his  ej-e  rapidly  giving 
place  to  an  air  of  seriousness  and  surprise  ;  an  expression  that  was  not  at  all 
diminished  by  an  observation  from  his  new  commander. 

••  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  Jack,"  said  the  latter  impressively ;  "  I  don't  pretend 
to  have  more  gumption  (qu.  discernment  ?)  than  my  messmates ;  but  I  can 
see  through  a  millstone  as  clear  as  any  man  as  ever  heaved  a  lead  in  these 
here  lakes ;  and  maj^  I  never  pipe  boatswain's  whistle  again,  if  you  arn't, 
some  how  or  other,  in  the  wrong  box.     That  'ere  Ingian's  one  of  us !" 

The  feelings  of  Captain  de  Haldimar  ma}--  easily  be  comprehended  by  our 
reaxierrf,  when,  on  glancing  at  the  paper,  he  found  himself  confirmed  in  the 
impression  previously  made  on  him  by  the  outline  of  the  captive's  form.  The 
writing,  nearlj^  obliterated  by  damp,  had  been  rudely  traced  by  his  own  pen- 
cil, on  a  leaf  torn  from  his  pocket-book  on  the  night  of  liis  visit  to  the  Indian 
encampment,  and  at  the  moment  when  seated  on  the  fatal  log,  Oucanasta  had 
promised  her  assi.stance  in  at  least  rescuing  his  betrothed  bride.  They  were 
addressed  to  JMajor  de  Haldimar,  and  briefly  stated  that  a  treacherous  plan 
was  in  contemplation  by  the  enemy  to  surprise  the  fort,  which  the  bearer, 
Oucanasta  (the  latter  word  stronglj^  marked),  would  fully  explain,  if  she 
could  possibly  obtain  access  within.  From  the  narrative  entered  into  by 
Clara,  who  had  particularly  dwelt  on  the  emotions  of  fear  that  had  sprung 
up  in  her  own  and  cousin's  heart  by  the  sudden  transformation  of  a  supposed 
harmless  beaver  into  a  fierce  and  threatening  savage,  he  had  no  difficulty 
in  solving  the  enigma. 

The  Indian,  in  whom  he  had  recognised  the  young  chief  who  had  saved  him 
from  the  fury  of  Wacousta,  had  evidently  been  won  upon  by  his  sister  to 
perform  a  service  which  offered  so  much  less  difficulty  to  a  warrior  than  to  a 
woman  ;  and  it  was  clear,  that,  finding  ail  other  means  of  communication 
with  tlie  fort,  undiscovered  by  liis  own  people,  impracticable,  he  had  availed 
himself  of  the  opportunity,  when  he  saw  the  boat  on  the  strand,  to  assume  a 
disguise  so  well  adapted  to  insure  success.  It  was  no  remarkable  thing  to 
see  both  the  beaver  and  the  otter  moving  on  the  calm  surface  of  the  waters 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  forts,  even  at  mid-day ;  and,  occupied  as  the  Indians 
were,  to  a  man,  at  that  moment  with  their  cruel  projects,  it  was  by  no  means 
likely  that  their  attention  should  have  been  called  off  from  these  to  so  ap- 
parently unimportant  a  circumstance.  The  act  that  had  principally  alarmed 
the  cousins,  and  terminated,  as  we  have  seen,  in  the  sudden  attack  of  the 
sailor,  had  evidently  been  misconceived.  The  hand  supposed  to  be  feeling  for 
the  heart  of  the  sluggard,  had,  in  all  probability,  been  placed  on  his  chest  with 
a  view  to  arouse  him  from  his  slumber ;  while  that  which  was  believed  to 
have  been  dropped  to  the  handle  of  the  knife,  was,  in  reality,  merely  seeking 
the  paper  that  contained  the  announcement,  which,  if  then  delivered,  might 
have  saved  the  garrison. 

Such  was  the  train  of  conjecture  that  now  passed  through  the  mind  of  the 
officer ;  but,  although  he  thus  placed  the  conduct  of  the  Indian  in  the  most 
favorable  light,  his  impression  received  no  confirmation  from  the  lips  of  the 
latter.  Sullen  and  doggedly,  notwithstanding  the  release  from  his  bonds,  the 
Ottawa  hung  his  head  upon  his  chest,  with  his  ej^es  riveted  on  the  deck,  and 
obstinately  refused  to  answer  every  question  put  to  him  by  his  deliverer.  This, 
however,  did  not  the  less  tend  to  confirm  Captain  de  Haldimar  in  his  belief. 
He  knew  enough  of  the  Indian  character  to  understand  the  indignant  and 
even  revengeful  spirit  likely  to  be  aroused  by  the  treatment  the  savage  h.ad 
met  with  in  return  for  his  intended  services.  He  was  aware  that,  without 
pausing  to  refiect  on  the  fact  that  the  sailor,  ignorant  of  his  actual  purpose, 
could  merely  have  seen  in  him  an  enemy  in  the  act  of  attempting  his  life,  th( 
chief  Avould  only  consider  and  inflame  himself  over  the  recollection  of  the 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      on,     T  II  K      P  R  0  P  H  K  C  Y  .  143 

blow  inllk'ted;  and  tliat,  with  the  true  obstinacy  of  Ins  race,  he  would  rather 
suH'ev  captivity  or  death  itself,  tlian  humble  the  haughty  pride  of  his  nature, 
by  condescending-  to  an  explanation  with  those  b}^  whom  he  felt  himself  so 
dee{)ly  injured.  Still,  even  amid  all  his  own  personal  griefs, — griefs  that  ren- 
dered the  boon  in  some  degree  at  present  valueless, — Captain  dc  Ilaldimar 
could  not  forget  that  the  youth,  no  matter  by  what  motive  induced,  had  res- 
cued him  from  a  dreadful  death  an  a  previous  occasion.  With  the  generous 
warmth,  therefore,  of  a  grateful  mind,  he  now  sought  to  impress  on  the  In- 
dian the  deep  sense  of  obligation  under  which  he  labored  ;  explaining  at  the 
same  time  the  very  natural  error  into  which  the  sailor  had  fjilien,  and  con- 
cluding with  a  declaration  that  he  was  free  to  quit  the  vessel  in  the  canoe  in 
which  he  himself  was  about  to  take  his  departure  for  the  shore,  in  search  of 
her  whom  his  sister  had  pledged  Jicrself.  at  all  hazards,  to  save. 

The  address  of  the  officer,  touchin"-  and  impressive  as  language  ever  is  that 
comes  fi'om  the  heart,  was  not  altogetlicj-  without  effect  on  the  Indian.  Several 
times  he  interrnptodhiui  with  a  short,  quick,  approving  "Ugh  1"  and  when  he 
at  length  recci\('d  Hie  assurance  that  he  was  no  longer  a  prisoner,  he  raised 
his  eyes  rapidlv.  althouoli  wiihout  moving  his  head,  to  the  counteniuioe  of  his 
deliverer.  Alrcailv  wn\'  his  lijis  upcning  to  speak  for  tlio  lirsl  tiui'',  when  the 
attention  of  th-  groui>  around  him  was  arrested  by  his  giving  a  smlden  start 
of  surprise.  At  the  same  moment  he  raised  his  head,  stretched  his  neck, 
threw  forward  his  right  ear,  and,  uttering  a  loud  and  emphatic  "Waugh!" 
pointed  -nith  his  linger  over  the  bows  of  the  vessel. 

All  listened  for  upwards  of  a  minute  in  mute  suspense  ;  and  then  a  faint  and 
scarcely  distinguishable  sound  was  heard  in  the  direction  in  which  he  pointed. 
Scarcely  had  it  floated  on  the  air,  when  a  shrill,  loud,  and  prolonged  cry,  of 
peculiar  tendency,  burst  hurriedly  and  eagerly  from  the  lips  of  the  captive  ,- 
and,  spreading  over  the  broad  expanse  of  water,  seemed  to  be  re-echoed  back 
from  every  point  of  the  sua-rounding  shore. 

Great  was  the  confusioa  that  followed  this  startling  yell  on  the  decks  of  the 
schooner.  '•  Cut  the  hell-fiend  down  !" — "  Chuck  him  overboard  !" — "  We  are 
betrayed !" — "  Every  man  to  his  gun  1" — "  Put  the  craft  about  1"  were  among  the 
numerous  exclamations  that  now  rose  simultaneously  from  at  least  twenty 
lips,  and  almost  drowned  the  loud  shriek  that  burst  again  from  the  wretched 
Clara  de  Haldimar. 

'■  Stop,  Mullins! — Stop,  men  !"  shouted  Captain  de  Haldimar,  firmly,  as  the 
excited  boatswain,  with  two  or  three  of  his  companions;  now  advanced  with 
the  intention  of  laying  violent  hands  on  the  Indian.  "  I  will  answer  for  his 
fidehty  with  my  life.  If  he  be  false,  it  will  be  time  enough  to  punish  him 
afterwards ;  but  let  us  calmly  await  the  issue  like  men.  Hear  me,"  he  pro- 
ceeded, as  he  remarked  their  incredulous,  uncertain,  and  still  threatening  air  ; 
''  this  Indian  saved  me  from  the  tomahawks  of  his  tribe  not  a  week  ago ;  and, 
even  now,  he  has  become  our  captive  in  the  act  of  taking  a  note  from  me  to 
the  garrison  to  warn  them  of  their  danger.  But  for  that  slumbering  fool,"  he 
added,  bitterly,  pointing  to  Fuller,  who  slept  when  he  should  have  watched, 
"  yon  fort  would  not  have  been  what  it  is, — a  mass  of  smoking  ruins.  He  has 
an  ocean  of  blood  upon  his  soul,  that  all  the  waters  of  the  Huron  can  never 
v/ash  out !" 

Struck  by  the  vehement  manner  of  the  officer,  and  the  disclosure  he  had 
just  made,  the  sailors  sunk  once  more  into  inaction  and  silence.  The  boat- 
swain alone  spoke. 

"  I  thought,  your  honor,  as  how  Jack  Fuller,  who  sartainly  is  a  better  hand 
at  a  snooze  than  a  watch,  had  got  in  a  bit  of  a  mess ;  but,  shiver  my  topsails, 
if  I  think  it's  quite  fair  to  blame  him,  neither,  for  clapping  a  stopper  on  the 
Ingian's  cable,  seeing  as  how  he  was  expecting  a  shot  between  wind  and  water. 
Still,  as  the  chap  turns  out  to  be  an  honest  chap,  and  has  saved  your  honor's 
life  above  all,  I  don't  much  care  if  I  give  him  a  grip.  Here,  old  fellow,  tip  us 
your  list !" 


144      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

Without  seeming  to  understand  that  his  cry  had  been  productive  of  general 
and  intense  alarm  throughout  the  vessel,  the  Indian  had  viewed  the  sudden 
rushing  of  the  crew  towards  him  as  an  act  of  gratuitous  hostihty  ;  and,  with- 
out shrinking  from  the  attack,  had  once  more  resumed  his  original  air  of  dog- 
ged suUenness.  It  was  evident  to  him,  from  the  discussion  going  on  that  some 
violence,  about  to  be  offered  to  his  person,  had  only  been  prevented  bj^  the  in- 
terference of  the  officer.  With  the  natural  haughtiness  of  his  savage  nature, 
he  therefore  rejected  the  overtures  of  the  sailor,  whose  hand  he  had  observed 
among  the  first  that  were  raised  against  him. 

Wliile  the  angry  boatswain  was  yet  rolling  his  quid  within  his  capacious 
jaws,  racking  his  brain  lor  the  strongest  language  wherein  to  give  vent  to  his 
indignation,  his  ears  were  suddenly  saluted  by  a  low  but  clear  "  Hilloa  !"  from 
the  l)ows  of  the  schooner. 

"  Ay,  ay '."  was  the  brief  response. 

"  There's  something  approaching  us  ahead,  on  the  weather  fore  quarter," 
continued  (he  same  A-oice,  which  was  that  of  the  man  on  the  look-out. 

The  most  profound  silence  now  pei-vaded  the  deck.  Every  individual,  in- 
cluding Captain  de  Haldimar  and  the  boatswain,  had  flown  to  the  gangway  of 
the  quarter  indicated,  which  was  on  the  side  occupied  by  the  couch  of  the  un- 
fortunate Clara.  Presently  a  noise  like  that  produced  by  a  single  paddle 
rapidly  dividing  the  water,  was  heard  b}^  every  anxious  ear.  Night  had  long 
since  throv.'n  her  mantle  over  the  surrounding  waste  ;  and  all  that  was  to  be 
seen  reflected  from  the  bosom  of  the  gradually  darkenmg  river,  scarcely  ruffled 
"bj^  the  yet  incipient  breeze,  were  a  few  straggling  stars,  that  here  and  there 
appeared  in  the  overcast  heavens.  Hitherto  no  object  could  be  discovered  by 
those  who  strained  their  eyes  eagerly  and  painfully  through  the  gloom,  al- 
though the  sovmds  became  at  each  moment  more  distinct.  It  was  evident  the 
party,  guided  by  the  noise  of  the  ripplnig  Avaves  that  fell  from  the  bows  of  the 
schooner,  was  enabled  to  follow  up  a  course,  the  direct  clue  to  which  had  been 
indicated  bj'  the  cry  of  the  captive.  Every  man  stood  near  his  gun  on  the 
starboard  battery,  and  the  burning  matches  hanging  over  their  respective 
buckets  ready  to  be  seized  at  a  moment's  notice.  Still,  but  little  room  for  ap- 
prehension existed :  for  the  practised  ear  of  the  mariners  could  easily  tell  that 
a  solitary  bark  alone  approached  ;  and  of  one.  or  even  ten.  the}'  entertained  no 
fear.  Suddenly,  as  the  course  of  the  vessel  was  now  changed  a  point  to  Avind- 
ward, — a  movement  that  brought  her  bows  more  off  the  adjacent  shore. — the 
sound,  in  vrhich  all  were  more  or  less  interested,  was  heard  not  more  tlian 
twenty  yards  off,  and  in  a  line  with  the  gangway  at  which  the  principal  of  the 
crew  were  assembled.  In  the  next  minute  the  low  hull  of  a  canoe  came  in 
sight,  and  then  a  tall  and  solitary  human  figure  was  seen  in  the  stern,  bend- 
ing alternately  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  as  the  paddle  was  rapidly  and  suc- 
cessively changed  from  side  to  side. 

Another  deep  and  exulting  "  Ugh  !"  was  now  heaved  from  the  chest  of  the 
Indian,  vvho  stood  calmly  on  the  spot  on  which  he  had  at  first  rested,  while 
Fuller  prepared  a  coil  of  rope  to  throw  to  the  active  steersman. 

"  AA'ast  there,  Jack  !"  growled  the  boatswain,  addressing  the  sailor ;  "  how 
can  the  stranger  keep  the  bow  of  his  cmSt  on,  and  grapple  at  the  same  time  ? 
Just  pass  one  end  of  the  coil  round  jour  waist,  and  swing  yourself  gently  into 
her." 

The  head  of  the  canoe  was  now  near  enough  for  the  purpose.  The  sailor  did 
as  he  was  desired,  having  previously  divested  himself  of  his  shoes,  and  leaping 
forward,  alighted  on  what  appeared  to  him  to  be  a  bundle  of  blankets  stowed 
away  in  her  bows.  No  sooner,  howcA'er,  had  he  secured  his  footing,  when 
with  anotlier  desperate  leap,  and  greatly  to  the  astonishment  of  all  around,  he 
bounded  once  more  to  the  deck  of  the  schooner,  his  countenance  exhibiting 
every  mark  of  superstitious  alarm.  In  the  act  of  quitting  the  canoe  he  had 
spurned  her  several  feet  from  the  vessel,  which  the  silent  steersman  was  again 
making  every  effort  to  reach. 


wacousta;    or,   the    prophecy.  145 

"  Wh_y,  what  the  devil's  the  maltcr  with  yoii  now?"  exclaimed  the  rough 
boatswain,  who,  as  well  as  Captain  do  llaldimar  and  the  rest  of  the  crew,  had 
quitted  the  gangway  to  learn  the  cause  of  this  extraordinary  conduct.  "  Damn 
my  eyes,  if  you  ar'nt  worse  scared  than  when  the  Ingian  stood  over  you  in 
the  jolly  boat." 

'■Scared,  aj'',  to  be  sure  I  am ;  and  so  would  j'ou  be  scared  too,  if  you  'd  a 
see'd  what  I  did.  May  I  never  touch  the  point  at  Portsmouth,  if  I  a'n't  seen 
her  ghost." 

'•  Where  ? — whose  ghost  ? — what  ghost  ? — what  do  you  mean,  Jack  ?"  ex- 
claimed several  men  in  the  same  breath,  while  the  superstitious  dread  so  com- 
mon to  mariners  drew  them  still  closer  in  the  group  that  encircled  their  com- 
panion. 

"  Well,  then,  as  I  am  a  miserable  sinner,"  returned  the  man,  impressively, 
and  in  a  low  tone,  '"  I  see'd  in  the  bows  of  the  canoe, — and  the  hand  that 
steered  it  was  not  made  of  flesh  and  blood  like  ours, — what  do  you  think  ? — 
the  ghost  of " 

Captain  de  Haldiniar  heard  no  more.  At  a  single  bound  he  had  gained  the 
ship's  side.  He  strained  his  eyes  anxiously  over  the  gangway  in  search  of 
the  canoe,  but  it  was  gone.  A  death-like  silence  throughout  the  deck  follow- 
ed the  communication  of  the  sailor,  and  in  that  pause  the  sound  of  the  reced- 
ing boat  could  be  heard,  not  urged,  as  it  had  approached,  by  one  paddle, 
but  by  two.  The  heart  of  the  officer  thi'obbed  almost  to  suffocation  ;  and  his 
firmness,  hitherto  supported  by  the  manly  energies  of  nature,  now  failed  him 
quite.  Heedless  of  appearances,  regardless  of  being  overlooked,  he  tottered 
like  a  drunken  man  for  support  against  the  mainmast.  For  a  moment  or  two 
he  leant  his  head  upon  his  hand,  with  the  air  of  one  immersed  in  the  most 
profound  abstraction  ;  while  the  crew,  at  once  alarmed  and  touched  by  the 
deep  distress  into  whioli  this  mysterious  cu'cumstance  had  plunged  him,  stood 
silently  and  respectfully  watching  his  emotion.  Suddenly  he  started  from 
his  attitude  of  painful  repose,  like  one  awakening  from  a  dream,  and  demanded 
what  had  become  of  the  Indian. 

Ever}-  one  looked  around,  but  the  captive  was  no  where  to  be  seen.  Search 
was  made  below,  both  in  the  cabin  and  in  the  fore  decks,  and  men  were  sent 
up  aloft  to  see  if  he  had  secreted  him,self  m  the  rigging ;  but  all  returned, 
stating  he  was  no  where  to  be  found.  He  had  disappeared  from  the  vessel 
altogether,  yet  no  one  knew  how  ;  for  he  had  not  been  observed  to  stir  from 
the  spot  on  which  he  had  first  planted  himself.  It  was  plain  however,  he  had 
joined  the  mysterious  party  in  the  canoe,  from  the  fact  of  the  second  paddle 
having  been  detected  ;  and  all  attempt  at  pursuit,  without  endangering  the 
vessel  on  the  shallows,  whither  the  course  of  the  fugitives  was  now  directed, 
was  dfcK;lared  by  the  boatswain  utterly  impracticable. 

The  announcement  of  the  Indian's  disappearance  seemed  to  put  the  climax 
to  the  despair  of  the  unfortunate  officer.  '•  Then  is  our  every  hope  lost !"  he 
groaned  aloud,  as.  quitting  the  centre  of  the  vessel,  he  slowly  traversed  the 
deck,  and  once  more  stood  at  the  side  of  his  no  less  unhappy  and  excited  sis- 
ter. For  a  moment  or  two  he  remained  with  his  .arms  folded  across  his  chest, 
gazing  on  the  dark  outline  of  her  form  ;  and  then,  in  a  wild  paroxysm  of 
silent,  tearless  grief,  threw  himself  suddenly  on  the  edge  of  the  couch,  and 
clasping  her  in  a  long  close  embrace  to  his  audibly  beating  heart,  lay  like  one 
bereft  of  all  sense  and  consciousness  of  surrounding  objects. 


CHAPTER   XXri. 

The  night  passed  away  without  farther  event  on  board  the  schooner,  yet 
in  all  the  anxiety  that  might  be  supposed  incident  to  men  so  perilously  situat- 
10 


146  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

ed.  Habits  of  long  since  acquired  superstition,  too. powerful  to  be  easily  shak- 
en off,  moreover,  conti'ibuted  to  the  dejection  of  the  mariners,  among  whom 
there  were  not  wanting  those  who  believed  the  silent  steersman  was  in  reahty 
what  their  comrade  had  represented. — an  immaterial  being,  sent  from  the 
world  of  spirits  to  warn  them  of  some  impending  evil.  What  principally 
gave  weight  to  this  impression  wei-e  the  repeated  asseverations  of  Fuller, 
during  the  sleepless  night  passed  by  all  on  deck,  that  what  he  had  seea 
was  no  other,  could  be  no  other,  than  a  ghost !  exhibiting  in  its  hueless, 
fleshless  cheeks,  the  well  known  lineaments  of  one  who  was  supposed  to  be  no 
more ;  and,  if  the  story  of  their  comrade  had  needed  confirmation  among  men 
in  whom  faith  in,  rather  than  love  for.  the  marvellous  was  a  constitutional  in- 
gredient, the  terrible  effect  that  seemed  to  have  been  produced  on  Captain  de 
Haldimar  by  the  same  mysterious  visitation  would  have  been  more  than  con- 
clusive. The  very  appeai-ance  of  the  night,  too,  iavorcd  the  delusion.  The 
heavens,  comparatively  clear  at  the  moment  when  the  canoe  approached  the 
vessel,  became  suddenly  enveloped  in  the  deepest  gloom  at  its  departure,  as  if 
to  enshroud  the  course  of  those  who.  having  so  mysteriously  approached,  had 
also  so  unaccountably  disappeared.  Nor  had  this  threatening  state  of  the  at- 
mosphere the  counterbalancing  advantage  of  storm  and  tempest  to  drive  them 
onward  through  the  narrow  vraters  of  the  Sinclair,  and  enable  them,  by  anti- 
cipa,ting  the  pursuit  of  their  enemies,  to  shun  the  Scylla  and  Gharbydis  that 
awaited  their  more  leisure  advance.  The  Avind  increased  not ;  and  the  disap- 
pointed seamen  remarked,  with  dismaj'-,  that  theii-  craft  scarcely  made  more 
progress  than  at  that  moment  when  she  first  quitted  her  anchorage. 

It  was  now  near  the  first  liom-s  of  day;  and  although,  perhaps,  none  slept, 
there  were  few  who  were  not  apparently  at  rest,  and  plunged  in  the  most 
painful  reflections.  Still  occupying  her  humble  couch,  and  shielded  frem  the 
night  air  merely  b}^  the  cloak  that  covered  her  own  biood-stained  garments, 
lay  the  unhappy  Clara,  her  deep  groans  and  stifled  sobs  bm-sting  occasionally 
from  hei'  pent-up  heart,  and  felling  on  the  ears  of  the  mariners  like  sounds  of 
fearful  import,  produced  Ijy  the  mysterious  agency  that  already  held  such 
undivided  power  over  their  thoughts.  On  the  bare  deck,  at  her  side,  lay  her 
brother,  his  face  turned  upon  the  planks,  as  if  to  shut  out  all  objects  from 
eyes  he  had  not  the  power  to  close ;  and.  with  one  arm  supporting  his  heavy 
brow,  while  the  other,  cast  around  the  restless  form  of  his  beloved  sister,, 
seemed  to  offer  protection  and  to  impart  confidence,  even  while  his  lips  denied 
the  accents  of  consolation.  Seated  on  an  empty  hen-coop  at  their  head,  was 
Sir  Everard  Valletort,  his  back  reposing  against  the  bulwarks  of  the  vessel, 
hie  arms  folded  across  his  chest,  and  his  ej^es  bent  mechanically  on  the  man. 
at  the  helm,  who  stood  within  a  few  paces  of  him, — an  attitude  of  absorption, 
which  he,  ever  and  anon,  changed  to  one  of  anxious  and  enquiring  interest, 
whenever  the  agitation  of  Clara  was  manifested  in  tlie  manner  already  .shown. 

The  main  deck  and  forecastle  of  the  vessel  presented  a  similar  picture  of 
mingled  unquietness  and  repose.  IMany  of  the  seamen  might  be  seen  seated 
on  the  gun-carriages,  with  their  cheeks  pressing  the  rude  metal  that  served 
them  for  a  pillow.  Others  lay  along  the  decks,  with  their  heads  resting  on 
the  elevated  hatches  ;  while  not  a  few,  squatted  on  their  haunches  with  their 
knees  doubled  up  to  their  very  chins,  supported  in  that  position  the  aching 
head  that  rested  between  their  rough  and  horny  palms.  A  first  glance  might 
have  induced  the  belief  that  all  were  buried  in  the  most  profound  slumber ; 
but  the  quick  jerking  of  a  limb, — the  fitful,  sudden  shifting  of  a  position, — 
the  utter  absence  of  that  deep  breathing  which  indicates  the  unconsciousness 
of  repose,  only  required  to  be  noticed,  to  prove  the  living  silence  that  reigned 
throughout  was  not  born  either  of  apathy  or  sleep. 

At  the  gangway  at  which  the  canoe  had  approached  now  stood  the  individ- 
ual already  introduced  to  our  readers  as  Jack  Fuller.  The  same  superstitious 
terror  that  caused  his  fliglit  had  once  more  attracted  him  to  the  spot  where 
the  subject  of  his  alarm  first  appeai-ed  to  him  ;  and,  without  seeming  to  reflect 


wacousta;     or,    the    pIjophect.  I-fJf 

that  the  vessel,  in  her  slow  but  certain  progress,  had  left  all  vestige  of  the 
mysterious  visitor  behind,  he  continued  gazing  over  the  bulwarks  on  the  dark 
vratcrs,  as  if  he  expected  at  each  niotncnt  to  find  his  sight  stricken  by  the- 
same  appalling  vision.  It  was  at  the  moment  wlicn  he  had  worked  up  biS' 
naturally  dull  imagination  to  its  highest  perception  of  the  supernatural,  that 
he  \vas  joined  by  the  rugged  boatswain,  who  had  passed  the  greater  part  of 
the  night  m  pacing  up  and  down  the  decks,  watching  the  aspect  of  the  heav- 
ens, and  occasionally  tauting  a  rope  or  s(iuaring  a  light  yard,  unassisted,  a& 
the  fluttering  of  the  canvass  in  tlu^  wind  rundcred  tlie  alteration  necessary. 

'•  Well,  Jack  !"  bluntly  observed  tlie  latter  in  a  gruff  whisper  that  resem- 
bled the  suppressed  growling  of  a  mastiff,  '•  what  are  ye  thinking  of  now  1 — 
Not  got  over  your  flunibustitication  yet,  that  ye  stand  here,  loolcing  as  saco- 
tified  as  an  old  parson  !" 

"  I'll  teU  ye  what  it  is,  Mr.  Mullins,"  returned  the  sailor,  in  the  same  key  : 
"  you  may  make  as  much  game  on  me  as  you  like  ;  but  these  here  strange 
sort  of  doings  are  somehow  ([uizzical  ;  and,  thougli  I  fears  nothing  in  tSe 
shape  of  tlosh  and  blood,  still,  when  it  comes  to  having  to  do  with  those  as  is 
gone  to  Davy  Jones's  locker  like,  it  gives  a  follow  an  all-overishness  as  isn^t 
quite  the  thing.     You  understand  m.e  ?" 

•'  Hang  me  if  I  do  !"  was  the  brief  rejoinder. 

"  Well,  then,"  continued  Fuller,  "  if  I  must  out  with  it,  I  must.  I  think 
that  'ere  Ingian  must  have  been  the  devil,  or  how  could  he  come  so  .sudd«u 
and  unbeknownst  upon  me.  with  the  head  of  a  'possum  :  and  then  agin,  hw?r 
could  he  get  away  from  the  ci-aft  without  our  seeing  him  ?  and  how  came  the 
ghost  on  board  of  {hi-  canoe?" 

"  Avast  there,  old  t'cllow  ;  you  means  not  the  head  of  a  'possum,  but  a 
beaver:  but  that  'ere's  all  nat'ral  enough,  and  easily  'counted  for;  but  jou 
havn't  told  us  whose  ghoj;t  it  was,  after  all." 

"  No  ;  the  captain  made  such  a  spring  to  the  gunwale,  as  frightened  it  sdl 
out  of  my  head  :  but  come  closer,  Mr.  Mullins,  and  I'll  whisper  it  in  yoor 
ear.     Hark!  what  was  that?"  , 

"I  hears  nothing,"  .said  the  boatswain,  after  a  pause. 

"  It's  very  odd,"  continued  Fuller ;  "  but  I  thought  as  how  I  heard  it  sere- 
ral  times  afoi-e  j'ou  came." 

"  There's  something  wrong.  I  take  it,  in  your  upi^er  story,  Jaclc  Fuller,^' 
coolly  observed  his  companion  ;  "  that  'ere  ghost  has  quite  capsized  you." 

"  ilark,  again  !"  repeated  the  sailor.  "  Didn't  you  hear  it  then  ?  A  sors 
of  a  gi'oan,  like." 

"  Where,  in  what  part  ?"  calmly  demanded  the  boatswain,  though  in  the 
same  suppressed  tone  in  which  the  dialogue  had  been  cari-ied  on. 

"  Wh}"-,  from  the  canoe  that  lies  alongside  there.  I  heard  it  several  timei 
afore." 

"  Well,  if  you  arn't  tui'ned  a  real  coward  at  last,"  politely  remarked  Mr. 
Mullins.  "  Can't  the  poor  fat  devil  of  a  Canadian  snooze  a  bit  in  his  ham- 
mock, without  putting  you  so  completely  out  of  your  reckoning  ?" 

"  The  Canaxlian — the  Canadian !"  hurriedly  returned  Fuller :  "  why,  don't 
you  see  him  there,  leaning  with  his  back  to  the  mainmast,  and  as  fast  asleep 
as  if  the  devil  himself  coiiddn't  wake  him  ?" 

"  Then  it  was  the  devil  you  heard,  if  you  like,"  quaintly  retorted  Mullms  :- 
"  but  bear  a  hand  and  tell  us  all  about  this  here  ghost." 

"  Hark,  again  !  what  was  that  ?"  once  more  enquired  the  excited  sailor. 

"  Only  a  gust  of  wind  passing  through  the  dried  boughs  of  the  canoe,"  said 
the  boatswain ;  '•  bift  since  we  can  get  nothing  out  of  that  crazed  noddle  of 
yours,  see  if  you  can't  do  something  with  ^-our  hands.  That  'ere  canoe  run- 
ning along  side,  takes  half  a  knot  olf  the  ship's  way.  Bear  a  hand  then. 
and  cast  off  the  painter,  and  let  her  drop  astarn.  that  she  may  follow  in  our 
wake.     Hilloa  !  what's  tlie  matter  with  the  man  now  ?" 

And  well  might  he  ask.     With  his  eye-balls  staring,  his  teeth  chattering:. 


148  w  A  c  o  u  t^  r  A  ;     or,    r  ii  e    p  k  o  p  k  e  c  y  . 

his  hod.j  hiilf  beul,  and  hix  arms  thrown  forward,  yet  pendent  as  if  suddenly 
arrested  in  that  j  ui->ition  \\diile  in  the  act  of  reaching  the  rope,  the  terrified 
.sailor  stood  gazing  on  (he  stern  of  the  canoe;  in  which,  by  the  fiint  light  of 
■the  dawui;;.'.;  (h.\\  \.iv-  !■-  l.v  soon  an  object  weU  calculated  to  fdl  the  leivst  sn- 
perstlti..:  ,;  ,:,  v>  /,  ;.  .; . ,  •■  ;m^1  dismay.  Throiigh  an  opening  in  the  fohage 
peered  i-      .  ■  j  ■  of  a  human  being,  with  its  dull  eyes  bent 

fixedly  ;.,.::  n.  :,...;  i  ,  ^  ,  i  '':■:■  ves>ol.  In  the  centre  of  the  wan  forehead 
was  a  (!M-k  imr.  '  ;.  o  ,  >■■  h'.;.:]  .-i, •:,,]':[]<■:  {he  superficies  of  a  newly  closed 
wound.  Tiic  i .,,:  1  ;  :,-:  :m  '  .{.-  J  :  I  j,i  \y  iii)."',osed,  so  as  to  display  a  roM^  of 
white  a.id  up|xuviii,l;,  !i|)io,-,s  n.-ecii ;  ;nul  (nelbatures  were  otherwise  set  and 
drawn,  n.i  those  of  one  who  is  no  longer  of  earth.  Around  the  head  was  bound 
a  covering  so  close,  as  to  i;onceal  every  part  save  the  face ;  and  once  or  twice  a 
hand  v.-a.s  slowly  raised,  and  pressed  upon  the  blood  spot  that  dimned  the  pass- 
ing fairness  of  the  brow.     Every  other  portion  of  the  fii>rm  vv^as  invisible. 

"  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us  !"  exclaimed  the  boatswain,  in  a  voice  that,  now 
elevated  to  more  than  ils  'natural  tone,  sounded  startlinglj-  on  the  stillness  of 
the  scene  ;  •'  sure  enough  it  is,  indeed  a  ghost !" 

"  Ila !  do  j-ou  believe  me  now  V  returned  Fuller,  gaining  confidence  from 
the  admission  of  his  companion,  and  in  the  same  elevated  key.  "  It  is,  as  I 
hope  to  be  saved,  tlie  ;;'host  I  see'd  afore." 

The  v()Ui-.,'.<  l!  '!.  .'  .  ■!(  •:,  was  now  everywhere  universal.  The  sailors  started 
to  their  i  :  i.'  ,  ,.  ;;.;■, Mr  and  alarm  visibly  imprinted  on  their  countenances, 
j'Ushcd  u;i.,';jii, -a  ._     ;;,.  Lids  the  dreaded  g;ingway. 

"Make  way — r..(;.u.  fellows!"  exclaimed  a  hurried  voice;  and  presently 
Captain  de  Haldim;;;-,  v,-;;o  had  hounded  like  lightning  from  the  deck,  appeared 
with  eager  eye  ;i;i'i  '•:  ■  :;;  1  cheek  ;>mong  them.  To  leap  into  the  boat  and  dis- 
appear un:{i  r  (1  .■  ,'  ■'  ■.  ,  v.-;!'.'  the  work  of  a  single  instant.  All  listened  breath- 
lessly for  tlie  .■:.I.  -■:  >);ind;  and  then  every  heart  throbbed  with  the  most 
undetinablo  euiol  khi  ,,  .i-;  jiis  hps  were  heard  giving  utterance  to  the  deep  emo- 
tion of  his  ovi-n  spirl;. — 

"MadAine,  (.h.  iiy  o-n  l')st  I\ladcline  !"  he  exclaimed  with  almost  frantic 
energy  of  passi'jii:  di)  1  t.lien  press  you  once  more  to  my  doating  heart? 
Speak,  speak,  to  nii' — for  (lod's  sake  speak,  or  I  shall  go  mad !  Air,  air, — she 
wants  air  ordy — she  cannot  be  dead."' 

These  last  words  were  succeeded  l)y  the  furious  rending  asunder  of  the  fast- 
enings that  secured  the  boughs,  and  presently  the  whole  went  overboard, 
leaving  revealed  the  tall  and  pictijresque  figure  of  the  officer ;  whose  left  arm 
encircled  while  it  supported  the  reclining  and  powerless  form  of  one  who  well 
resembled,  indeed,  the  spectre  for  which  she  had  been  mistaken,  while  his 
right  hand  was  busied  in  detaching  the  string  that  secured  a  portion  of  the 
covering  round  her  throat.  At  length  it  fell  from  her  shoulders ;  and  the  well 
known  form  of  i'lladeliuc  de  Ilaldimar,  clad  even  in  the  vestments  in  which 
they  had  been  wont  to  see  her,  met  the  astonished  gaze  of  the  excited  seamen. 
Still  there  were  some  who  doubted  it  was  the  corporeal  woman  whom  they 
beheld  ;  and  several  of  the  crew  who  were  Catholics  even  made  the  sign  of  the 
cross  as  the  supposed  spirit  was  now  borne  up  the  gangway  in  the  arms  of  the 
pained  yet  gratified  De  Ilaldimar :  nor  was  it  until  her  feet  were  seen  finally 
resting  on  the  deck,  that  Jack  Fuller  could  persuade  himself  it  was  indeed 
Miss  de  Haldimar,  and  not  her  ghost,  that  lay  clasped  to  the  heart  of  the 
oJHcer. 

With  the  keen  rush  of  the  morning  air  upon  her  brow  returned  the  sus- 
pended consciousness  of  the  bewildered  Madeline.  The  blood  came  slowlj'- 
and  imperceptibly  to  her  cheek ;  and  her  eyes,  hitherto  glazed,  fixed,  and  in- 
expressive, •  looked  enquiringly,  yet  with  stupid  wonderment,  around.  She 
started  from  the  embrace  of  her  lover,  gazed  alternately  at  his  disguise,  at  him- 
self, and  at  Clara ;  and  then  passing  her  hand  several  times  rapidly  across  her 
brow,  uttered  an  liysteric  scream,  and  threw  herself  im])etuoUvSly  forward  on 
the  bosom  of  the  "sobbing  girl ;  who,  with  extended  arms,  parted  lips,  and 


W  A  C  0  U  5  T  A  ;      OK,     T  H  K     PRO  1'  11  E  C  V  .  149 

heaving  bosom,  sat  breathlessly  awaitiug  the  first  dawn  of  the  returning  reason 
of  her  more  than  sister. 

"We  sliould  vainly  attempt  to  paint  all  the  heart-rending  miser}-  of  the  scene 
exhibited  in  the  gradual  restoration  of  ^Miss  dc  Haldimar  to  her  senses.  From; 
a  state  of  torpor,  produced  by  the  freezing  of  every  faculty  into  almost  idiotcy, 
she  was  suddenly  awakened  to  all  the  terrors  of  the  past ;  and  the  deep  into- 
nations of  her  rich  voice  were  heard  only  in  expressions  of  agony,  that  entered 
into  the  most  iron-hearted  of  the  assembled  seamen ;  while  they  drew  from  the 
bosom  of  her  gentle  and  sympathising  cousin  fresh  i)ursts  of  desolating  grief. 
Imuginaiion  itself  would  find  difficulty  in  supplying  the  harrowing  effect  upon 
all,  when,  with  upraised  hands,  and  on  her  bended  knees,  her  large  eyes  turned 
wildly  up  to  heaven,  she  invoked  in  deep  and  :;tartling  ;i;:-eents  the  terrible  re- 
tribution of  a  just  God  on  the  inhuman  mmxlerers  of  litr  father,  with  whose 
life-blood  her  c  -  ■  rrrc  profusely  saturated;  and  then,  w^th  hysteric 
laughter,  denr  'i-j  alone  had  been  singled  out  to  survive  the  bloody 

tragedy.   Lovr  ,i  nn,  hitherto  the  first  principles  of  her  existence,  then 

found  no  entrance  iiito  licr  mind.  Stricken,  broken-hearted,  stultified  to  all 
feeling  save  that  of  her  immediate  wretchedness,  she  thought  only  of  the  hor- 
rible scenes  through  which  slie  had  passed ;  and  even  he,  whom  at  another 
moment  she  coiUd  have  clasped  in  an  agony  of  fond  tenderness  to  her  beating 
bosom, — he  to  whom  she  had  pledged  her  virgin  faith,  and  was  bound  by  the 
dearest  of  human  tics. — he  whom  she  ha-d  so  often  longed  to  behold  once  more, 
and  had  thought  of,  the  preceding  day,  with  all  the  tenderness  of  her  impas- 
sioned and  devoted  soid, — even  he  did  not,  in  the  first  hours  of  her  terrible 
consciousness,  so  much  as  ^  command  a  single  passing  regard.  All  the  affec- 
tions were  for  a  moment  blighted  in  her  bosom.  She  seemed  as  one  devoted,, 
without  the  power  of  resistance,  to  a  grief  which  calcined  and  preyed  upon  all 
other  feelings  of  the  mind.  One  stunning  and  annihilating  reflection  seemed 
to  engross  every  principle  of  her  being ;  nor  was  it  for  hours  after  she  had 
been  restored  to  life  and  recollection  that  a  deluge  of  burning  tears,  giving  re- 
lief to  her  heart  and  a  new  direction  to  her  feelings,  enabled  her  at  length  to- 
separate  the  past  from,  and  in  some  degree  devote  herself  to,  the  present. 
Then,  indeed,  for  the  first  time  did  she  perceive  and  take  pleasure  in  the  pre- 
sence of  her  lover ;  and  clasping  her  beloved  and  weeping  Clara  to  her  heart, 
thank  her  God,  in  all  the  fervor  of  true  piety,  that  she  at  ieast.had  been  spared 
to  shed  a  ray  of  comfort  on  her  distracted  spirit.  But  we  will  not  pain  the 
reader  by  dwelling  on  s  scene  that  drew  tears  even  from  the  rugged  and  flint- 
hearted  boatswain  himself;  for.  although  we  should  linger  on  it  with  minute 
anatomical  detail,  no  powers  of  language  we  possess  could  convey  the  trans- 
cript as  it  should  be.  Pass  we  on,  therefore,  to  the  more  immediate  incidents 
of  our  narrative. 

The  day  now  rapidly  developing,  full  opportunity  was  afforded  the  mari- 
ners to  survey  the  strict  natm-e  of  their  position.  To  all  appearance  they 
were  yet  in  the  middle  of  the  lake,  for  aroimd  them  lay  the  belting  sweep  of 
forest  that  bounded  the  perspective  of  the  equidistant  circle,  of  which  their 
bark  was  the  focus  or  immediate  centre.  The  wind  was  dying  gradually 
awaj-,  and  when  at  length  the  sun  rose,  in  all  its  splendor,  there  was  scarce 
air  enough  in  the  heavens  to  keep  the  sails  from  flapping  against  the  masts, 
or  to  enable  the  vessel  to  obey  her  helm.  In  vain  was  the  low  and  pecuhar 
whistle  of  the  seamen  heard,  ever  and  anon,  in  invocation  of  the  departing 
breeze.  Another  da_y,  calm  and  breathless  as  the  preceding,  had  bc^n  char- 
tered from  the  world  of  light ;  and  their  hearts  failed  them  as  they  foresaw 
the  diiBculty  of  their  position,  and  the  almost  certainty  of  their  retreat  being 
cut  oil".  It  was  while  laboring  under  the  disheartening  consciousness  of  dan- 
ger, peculiar  to  all,  that  the  anxious  boatswain  summoned  Captain  de  Haldi- 
mar and  Sir  Everard  Valletort,  by  a  significant  beck  of  the  finger,  to  the  side 
of  the  deck  opposite  to  that  on  which  still  lay  the  suffering  and  nearly  broken- 
hearted srirls. 


450      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

"  Well,  Mulliiis,  what  nov,-  ?"  enquired  the  former,  as  he  narrowly  scanned 
the  expression  of  the  old  man's  features  :  "'  that  clouded  brow  of  yours,  I  fear 
me,  bodes  no  agreeable  information." 

"  Why,  your  honor,  I  scarcely  knows  what  to  say  about  it ;  but  seeing  as 
I'm  the  only  officer  in  the  ship,  nov»"  our  poor  captain  is  killed,  God  bless  him ! 
I  thought  I  might  take  the  liberty  to  consult  with  your  honors  as  to  the  best 
way  of  getting  out  of  the  jaws  of  them  sharks  of  Ingians  ;  and  two  heads,  as 
the  saying  is,  is  always  better  than  one." 

•'  And  now  you  have  the  advantage  of  three,"  observed  the  officer,  with  a 
sickly  smile  ;  '"  but  I  fear,  Mullins,  that  if  your  own  be  not  sufficient  for  the 
purpose,  ours  will  be  of  little  service.  You  must  take  counsel  from  your  own 
experience  and  knowledge  of  nautical  matters." 

"  Why,  to  be  sure,  your  honor,"  and  the  sailor  rolled  his  quid  from  one 
cheek  to  the  other,  "  I  think  I  may  say  as  how  I'll  venture  to  steer  the  craft 
with  any  man  on  the  Canada  lakes,  and  bring  her  safe  into  port,  too ;  but 
seemg  as  how  I'm  only  a  petty  officer,  and  not  3^et  recommended  by  his  wor- 
ship the  governor  for  the  full  command.  I  thought  it  but  right  to  consult  with 
my  superiors,  not  as  to  the  management  of  the  craft,  but  the  best  as  is  to  bo 
done.  What  does  your«honor  think  of  making  for  the  high  land  over  the 
larboard  bow  yonder,  and  waiting  for  the  chance  of  the  night  breeze  to  take 
us  through  the  Sinclair  ?" 

"  Do  whatever  you  think  best,"  returned  the  officer.  "  For  my  part.  I 
scarcely  can  give  an  opinion.  Yet  how  are  we  to  get  there  ?  There  does  not 
appear  to  be  a  breath  of  wind." 

"  Oh,  that's  easily  managed ;  we  have  only  to  brail  and  furl  up  a  little,  to 
hide  our  cloth  from  the  Ingians,  and  then  send  the  boats  ahead  to  tow  the 
craft,  while  some  of  us  lend  a  hand  at  her  own  sweeps.  We  shall  get  close 
under  the  lee  of  the  land  afore  night,  and  then  we  must  pull  up  agin  along 
shore,  until  we  get  within  a  mile  or  so  of  the  liead  of  the  river." 

"  But  shall  we  not  be  seen  by  our  enemies  ?"  asked  Sir  Everard  ;  "  and  will 
they  not  be  on  the  watch  for  our  movements,  and  intercept  our  retreat  ?" 

"  Now  that's  just  the  thing,  your  honor,  as  they're  not  likely  to  do,  if  so  be 
as  we  bears  away  from  yon  headlands.  I  know  every  nook  and  sounding 
round  the  lake ;  and  odd  enough  if  I  didn't,  seeing  as  how  the  craft  circum- 
navigated it  at  least  a  dozen  times  since  we  have  been  cooped  up  here.  Poor 
Captain  Danvers !  (may  the  devil  take  his  murderers.  I  say,  though  it  does 
make  a  commander  of  me  for  once  ;)  he  used  always  to  make  for  that 
'ere  point,  whenever  he  wished  to  lie  quiet ;  for  never  once  did  we  see  so 
much  as  a  single  Ingian  on  the  headland.  No,  your  honor,  they  keeps  all  at 
t'other  side  of  the  lake,  seeing  as  how  that  is  the  main  road  from  INIackina  to 
Detroit." 

"  Then,  by  all  means,  do  so,"  eagerly  returned  Captain  de  Haldimar.  "  Oh, 
Mulhns !  take  us  but  safely  through,  and  if  the  interest  of  my  father  can 
procure  a  king's  commission,  you  shall  not  want  it,  believe  me." 

"  And  if  half  my  fortune  can  give  additional  stimulus  to  exertion,  it  shall 
be  shared,  with  pleasure,  between  yourself  and  crew,"  observed  Sir  Everard. 

"  Thank  your  honors, — thank  your  honors,"  said  the  boatswain,  somewhat 
electrified  by  these  brilliant  oflers.  "  The  lads  may  take  the  money,  if  they 
like  ;  all  I  cares  about  is  the  king's  commission.  Give  me  but  a  s^\'ni)  on  my 
shoulder,  and  the  money  will  come  fast  enough  of  itself.  But  still,  shiver 
"my  topsails,  if  I  wants  any  bribery  to  make  me  do  my  duty  ;  besides,  if 
'twas  Only  for  them  poor  girls,  alone,  I  would  go  through  fire  and  water  to 
sarve  them.  I'm  not  verj'^  chicken-hearted  in  my  old  age,  your  honors,  but  I 
don't  recollect  the  time  Avhen  I  blubbered  so  much  as  I  did  when  Miss  Made- 
line come  aboard.  But  I  can't  bear  to  think  of  it ;  and  now  let  us  see  and 
get  all  ready  for  towing." 

Everything  now  became  bustle  and  activity  on  board  the  schooner.  The 
.  matches,  no  longer  required  for  the  moment,  were  extinguished,  and  the  heavy 


wacodsta;  or,  the  prophecy.      151 

catlasses  and  pistols  iinbuckled  from  the  loins  of  the  men,  and  deposited  near 
their  respective  «;\ins.  Li?;ht  forms  Hew  aloft,  and  standing  ont  upon  the 
yards,  loosely  furled  the  sails  that  had  previously  been  hauled  and  clewed  up  ; 
but  as  this  was  an  operation  requiring  little  time  in  so  small  a  vessel,  those 
who  were  engaged  in  it  speedily  glided  to  the  deck  again,  ready  for  a  more 
arduous  service."  The  boats  had,  meanwhile,  been  got  forward,  and  into  these 
the  sailors  sprang  with  an  alacrity  that  could  scarcely  have  been  expected 
from  men  who  had  passed  not  only  the  preceding  night,  but  many  before  it, 
in  utter  sleeplessness  and  despair.  But  the  imminence  of  the  clanger,  and 
the  evident  necessity  existing  for  exertion,  aroused  them  to  new  energy ;  and 
the  hitherto  motionless  vessel  was  now  made  to  obey  the  imjmlse  given  by 
the  tow  ropes  of  the  boats,  in  a  manner  that  proved  their  crews  to  have  en- 
tered on  their  toil  with  the  determination  of  men  resolved  to  devote  them- 
selves in  earnest  to  their  tasks.  Nor  was  the  spirit  of  action  confined  to 
these.  The  long  sweeps  of  the  schooner  had  been  shipped,  and  such  of  the 
crew  as  remained  on  board  labored  efiectually  at  them, — a  service  in  Avhich 
they  were  essentially  aided,  not  only  by  mine  host  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis,  but 
by  the  .young  officers  themselves. 

At  mid-day  the  headlands  were  seen  looming  largely  in  the  distance,  while 
the  immediate  shores  of  the  ill-fated  fortress  were  momentarily,  and  in  the 
same  proportion,  disappearing  under  the  dim  line  of  horizon  in  the  rear. 
More  than  half  their  course,  from  the  spot  whence  they  commenced  towing. 
had  been  completed,  when  the  harassed  men  were  made  to  quit  their  oars,  in 
order  to  partake  of  the  scanty  fare  of  the  vessel,  consisting  chiefly  of  dried 
bear's  meat  and  venison.  Spirit  of  any  description  they  had  none ;  but,  un- 
like their  brethren  of  the  Atlantic,  when  driven  to  extremities  in  food,  they 
knew  not  what  it  was  to  poison  the  mitritious  properties  of  the  latter  by  sip- 
ing  the  putrid  dregs  of  the  water-cask,  in  quantities  scarce  sufficient  to  quench 
the  fire  of  their  parched  palates.  Unslaked  thirst  was  a  misery  unknown  to 
the  mariners  of  these  lakes  :  it  was  but  to  cast  their  buckets  deep  into  the 
tempting  element,  and  water,  pure,  sweet,  and  grateful  as  any  that  ever  bub- 
bled from  the  moss-clad  fountain  of  sylvan  deity,  came  cool  and  refreshing 
to  their  lips,  neutralising,  in  a  measure,  the  crudities  of  the  coarsest  food.  It 
was  to  tliis  inestimable  advantage  the  crev/-  of  the  schooner  had  been  prin- 
cipally indebted  for  their  health,  during  the  long  series  of  privation,  as  far  as 
related  to  fresh  provisions  and  rest,  to  which  they  had  Ijecn  subjected.  All 
appeared  as  vigorous  in  frame,  and  robust  in  health,  as  at  the  moment  when 
thej-  had  last  quitted  the  waters  of  the  Detroit ;  and  but  for  the  inward  sink- 
ing of  the  spirit  reflected  in  many  a  bronzed  and  furrowed  brow,  there  was 
little  to  show  they  had  been  exposed  to  any  very  extraordinary  trials. 

Their  meal  having  been  hastily  despatched,  and  sweetened  by  a  draught 
from  the  depths  of  the  Huron,  the  seamen  once  more  sprang  into  their  boats, 
and  devoted  themselves,  heart  and  soul,  to  the  completion  of  their  task,  pull- 
ing with  a  vigor  that  operated  on  each  and  all  with  a  tendency  to  encourage- 
ment and  hope.  At  length  the  vessel,  still  impelled  by  her  own  sweeps,  gra- 
dually approached  the  land  ;  and  at  rather  more  than  an  hour  before  sunset 
was  so  near  that  the  moment  was  deemed  arrived  when,  without  danger  of 
being  perceived,  she  might  be  run  up  along  the  shore  to  the  point  alluded  to 
by  the  boatswain.  Little  more  than  another  hour  was  occupied  in  bringing  her 
to  her  station  ;  and  the  red  tints  of  departing  day  were  visible  in  the  direction 
of  the  ill-fated  fortress  of  Michillimackinac,  when  the  sullen  rumbling  of  the 
cable,  following  the  heavjr  splash  of  the  anchor,  announced  the  place  Qf  mo- 
mentary concealment  had  been  gamed. 

The  anchorage  lay  between  two  projecting  headlands ;  to  the  outermost 
extremities  of  which  were  to  be  seen,  overhanging  the  lake,  the  state- 
ly birch  and  pine,  connected  at  their  base  by  impenetrable  brushwood,  ex- 
tending to  the  very  shore,  and  affording  the  amplest  concealment,  except  from 
the  lake  side  and  the  banks  under  which  the  schooner  was  moored.     From 


152  ^vAcousTA;    or,    the    prophecy. 

the  first  quarter,  however,  little  clanger  was  incurred,  as  any  canoes  the  sav- 
ages might  send  in  discovery  of  their  course,  must  unavoidably  be  seen  the 
moment  they  appeared  over  the  line  of  the  horizon,  while,  on  the  contrary, 
their  own  vessel,  although  much  larger,  resting  on  and  identified  with  the 
land,  must  be  invisible,  except  on  a  very  near  approach.  In  the  opposite  di- 
rection they  were  equally  safe ;  for,  as  Mullins  had  truly  remarked,  none,  save 
a  few  wandering  hunters,  whom  chance  occasionally  led  to  the  spot,  were  to 
be  met  with  in  a  part  of' the  country  that  lay  so  completely  out  of  the  track 
of  communication  between  the  fortress.  It  was,  however,  but  to  double  the 
second  headland  in  their  front,  and  they  came  within  view  of  the  Sinclair,  the 
head  of  which  v.-as  situated  little  more  than  a  league  beyond  the  spot  where 
they  now  lay.  Thus  secure  for  the  present,  and  waiting  only  for  the  rising 
of  the  breeze,  of  which  the  setting  sun  had  given  promise,  the  sailors  once 
more  snatched  their  hasty  refreshment,  while  two  of  their  number  were  sent 
aloft  to  keep  a  vigilant  look-out  along  the  circuit  embraced  by  the  enshroud- 
ed headlands. 

During  the  whole  of  the  day  the  cousins  had  continued  on  deck  clasped  in 
each  other's  arms,  and  shedding  tears  of  bitterness,  and  heaving  the  most 
heart-rending  sobs  at  intervals,  yet  but  rarely  conversing.  The  feelings  of 
both  were  too  much  oppressed  to  admit  of  the  utterance  of  their  grief.  The 
vampire  of  despair  had  banqueted  on  their  hearts.  Often  had  Sir  Everard 
and  De  Haldimar  paused  momentarily  from  the  labor  of  their  oars,  to  cast  an 
eye  of  anxious  solicitude  on  the  scarcely  conscious  girls,  wishing,  rather  than 
expecting,  to  find  the  violence  of  their  desolation  abated,  and  that,  in  the  fuU 
expansion  of  unreserved  ccmmunication,  they  were  relieving  their  sick  hearts 
from  the  terrible  weight  of  woe  that  bore  them  down.  Captain  de  Haldimar 
had  even  once  or  twice  essayed  to  introduce  the  subject  himself,  in  the  hope 
that  some  fresh  parox^'sm,  following  their  disclosuj-es,  would  remove  the  hor- 
rible stupefaction  of  their  senses  ;  but  the  wild  look  and  excited  manner  of 
iladeline,  Vi'henevcr  he  touched  on  the  chord  of  her  affliction,  had  as  often 
caused  him  to  desist. 

Towards  the  evening,  however,  her  natural  strength  of  character  came  in 
aid  of  his  quiescent  efforts  to  soothe  her :  arid  she  appeared  not  only  more 
composed,  but  more  sensible  of  tlie  impression  produced  by  surrounding  ob- 
jects. As  the  last  rays  of  the  sun  were  tinging  the  horizon,  she  drew  up  her 
form  in  a  sitting  position  against  the  bulwarks,  and,  raising  her  clasped  hands  to 
heaven,  while  her  eyes  were  bent  long  and  fixedly  on  the  distant  west,  appear- 
ed some  minutes  wholly  lost  in  that  attitude  of  absorption.  Then  she  closed 
>  her  eyes  ;  and  through  the  swollen  lids  came  coursing,  one  by  one,  over  her 
quivering  cheek,  large  tears,  that  seemed  to  scald  a  furrow  where  they  passed. 
After  this  she  became  more  calm — her  respiration  more  free ;  and  she  even 
consented  to  taste  the  humble  meal  v/hich  the  young  man  novr  oftered  for  the 
third  time.  Neither  Clara  nor  herself  had  eaten  food  since  the  preceding 
morning ;  and  the  weakness  of  their  frames  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  in- 
creasing despondency  of  their  spirits  ;  but,  notwithstanding  several  attempts 
previously  made,  they  had  rejected  what  was  oflcred  them,  with  insurmount- 
able loathing.  When  they  had  now  swallowed  a  few  morsels  of  the  sliced 
vertison  ham,  prepared  with  all  the  delicacy  the  nearly  exhausted  resources 
of  the  vessel  could  supply,  accompanied  by  a  small  portion  of  the  corn-bread 
of  the  Canadian,  Captain  de  Haldimar  prevailed  on  them  to  swallow  a  few 
drops  of  the  spirit  that  still  remained  in  the  canteen  given  them  by  Erskinc 
on  their  departure  from  Detroit.  The  genial  liquid  sent  a  kindling  glow  to 
their  chilled  hearts,  and  for  a  moment  deadened  the  pungency  of  their  anguish ; 
and  then  it  was  that  Miss  de  Haldimar  entered  briefly  on  the  horrors  she  had 
witnessed,  while  Clara,  with  her  arm  encircling  her  waist,  fixed  her  dim  and 
swollen  eyes,  from  which  a  tear  ever  and  anon  rolled  heavily  to  her  lap,  ou 
those  of  her  beloved  cousin. 


wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy.  163 


CHAPTER  XXm. 

Without  borrowing  the  affecting  language  of  the  unhappy  girl — a  language 
rendered  even  more  touching  by  the  peculiar  pathos  of  her  tones,  and  the 
searching  agony  of  spirit  that  burst  at  intervals  through  her  narrative — we 
will  merely  present  our  readers  with  a  brief  summary  of  what  was  gleaned 
from  her  melancholy  disclosure.  On  bearing  her  couisin  to  the  bed-room, 
after  the  teiTifying  yell  first  heard  from  without  the  fort,  she  had  flown  down 
the  front  stairs  of  the  block-house,  in  the  hope  of  reaching  the  guard-room  in 
time  to  acquint  Captain  Baynton  with  what  she  and  Clara  had  witnessed 
from  the  window.  Scarcely,  however,  had  she  gained  the  exterior  of  the 
binldi)ig,  when  she  saw  that  ofiicer  descending  from  a  point  of  the  rampart 
immediately  on  her  left,  and  almost  in  a  line  with  the  block-house.  He  was 
running  to  overtake  and  return  the  ball  of  the  Indian  players,  which  had,  at 
that  moment,  fallen  into  the  centre  of  the  fort,  and  was  now  rolling  rapidly 
away  from  the  spot  on  which  jMiss  de  Haldimar  stood.  The  course  of  the 
ball  led  the  pursuing  officer  out  of  the  reach  of  her  voice ;  and  it  was  not 
until  he  had  overtaken  and  thrown  it  again  over  the  rampart,  she  could  suc- 
ceed in  ch^iming  his  attention.  No  sooner,  however,  had  he  heard  her  hurried 
statement,  ilian,  witliout  waiting  to  take  the  orders  of  his  commanding  officer, 
he  prepared  to  join  his  guard,  and  gave  directions  for  the  immediate  closing  of 
the  gates.  But  the  opportunity  was  now  lost.  The  delay  occasioned  by  the 
chase  and  recovery  of  the  ball  had  given  the  Indians  time  to  approach  the 
gates  in  a  body,  while  the  unsuspicious  soldiery  looked  on  without  so  much 
as  dreaming  to  prevent  them  ;  and  Captain  Baynton  had  scarcely  moved  for- 
ward in  execution  of  his  purpose,  v»dien  the  yelling  fiends  were  seen  already 
possessing  themselves  of  the  drawbridge,  and  exhibiting  every  appearance  of 
fierce  hostility.  Wild,  maddened  at  the  sight,  the  almost  frantic  JMadeline, 
alive  only  to  her  father's  danger,  rushed  back  towards  the  council  room, 
whence  the  startling  3'ell  from  without  had  already  been  echoed,  and  where 
the  tramp  of  feet  and  the  clashing  of  weapons  were  distinguishable. 

Cut  oft'  from  his  guard,  by  the  rapid  inundation  of  warriors,  Captain  Bayn- 
ton had  at  once  seen  the  futility  of  all  attempts  to  join  the  men,  and  his  first 
impression  evidently  had  been  to  devote  himself  to  the  preservation  of  the 
cousins.  With  this  view  he  turned  liastily  to  Miss  de  Haldimar,  and  hurried- 
ly naming  the  back  staircase  of  the  block-house,  urged  her  to  direct  her  flight 
to  that  quarter.  But  the  excited  girl  had  neither  consideration  nor  fear  for 
herself;  she  thought  only  of  her  father :  and,  even  while  the  fierceness  of 
contest  was  at  its  height  within,  she  suddenly  burst  into  the  council  room. 
The  confusion  and  horror  of  the  scene  that  met  her  eyes  no  language  can 
render :  blood  was  flowing  in  every  direction,  and  dying  and  dead  officers,  al- 
ready stripped  of  their  scalps,  vrere  lying  strewed  around  the  room.  Still  the 
survivors  fought  with  all  the  obstinacy  of  despair,  and  many  of  the  Indians 
had  shared  the  fate  of  their  victims.  Miss  de  Haldimar  attempted  to  reach 
her  flither,  then  vigorously  combatting  with  one  of  the  most  desperate  of  the 
chiefs  ;  but,  before  she  could  dart  through  the  intervening  crowd,  a  savage 
seized  her  by  the  hair,  and  brandished  a  tomahawk  rapidly  over  her  neck. 
At  this  moment  Captain  Baynton  sent  his  glittering  blade  deep  into  the  heart 
of  the  Indian,  who,  relinquishing  his  grasp,  fell  dead  at  the  feet  of  his  intend- 
ed victim.  The  devoted  officer  then  threw  his  left  arm  round  her  waist,  and 
parrying  with  his  sword-arm  the  blows  of  those  who  sought  to  intercept  his 
flight,  dragged  his  reluctant  burden  towards  the  door.  Hotly  pressed  by  the 
remaining  officers,  nearly  equal  in  number,  the  Indians  were  now  compelled 
to  turn  and  defend  thenaselves  in  front,  when  Captain  Baj^nton  took  that  op- 
portunity of  getting  once  more  into  the  corridor,  not,  however,  without  hav- 
ing received  a  severe  wound  immediately  bchiud  the  right  ear,  and  leaving  a 


1S4  W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,      T  II  K      PROPHECY. 

skirt  and  lappel  of  his  uniform  in  tlic  hands  of  two  savaires  who  had  sncces- 
sively  essayed  to  dctai'i  him.  At  that  moment  the  band  without  had  suc- 
ceeded in  forcing  open  the  door  of  tlie  guard  room  ;  and  the  ofticer  saw  at  a 
glance  there  was  little  time  left- for  decision.  In  hurried  and  imploring  accents 
he  besought  ]\Iiss  de  Haklimar  to  forget  every  thing  but  her  own  danger,  and 
to  summon  resolution  to  tear  herself  from  the  scene  ;  but  prayer  and  entreaty, 
and  even  force,  wei'e  alike  employed  in  vain.  Clinging  firmly  to  the  rude  bal- 
ustrades, she  refused  to  be  led  up  the  staircase,  and  Avildly  resisting  all  his 
efforts  to  detach  her  hands,  declared  she  would  again  return  to  the  scene  of 
death,  in  which  her  beloved  parent  was  so  conspicuous  an  actor.  While  he 
wa.s  yet  engaged  in  this  fruitless  attempt  to  force  her  from  the  spot,  the  door 
of  the  council-room  -was  suddenly  burst  open,  and  a  group  of  bleeding  officers, 
among  whom  was  Major  de  Ilaldimar,  followed  by  their  yelling  "enemies, 
rushed  wildly  into  the  passage,  and,  at  the  very  foot  of  the  .stairs  where  they 
yet  stood,  the  combat  was  renewed.  From  that  moment  Miss  de  Haldimar 
lost  sight  of  her  generous  protector;  Meanwhile  the  tumult  of  execrations, 
and  groans,  and  yells,  was  at  its  height ;  and  one  by  one  she  saw  the  unhappy 
officers  sink  beneath  weapons  yet  reeking  with  the  blood  of  their  comrades, 
until  not  more  than  three  or  four,  including  her  father  and  the  commander  of 
the  schooner,  were  left.  At  length  Idajor  de  Haldimar,  overcome  by  exertion 
and  faint  from  wounds,  while  his  wild  eye  darted  despairingly  on  his  daugh- 
ter, had  his  sword-arm  desperately  wounded,  when  the  blade  dropped  to  the 
earth,  and  a  dozen  weapons  glittered  above  his  head.  The  wild  shriek  that 
had  startled  Clara  then  burst  from  the  agonised  heart  of  her  maddened  cou.sin, 
and  she  darted  forward  to  cover  her  father's  head  with  her  ai'ms.  But  her 
senses  failed  her  in  the  attempt ;  and  the  last  thing  she  recollected  was  falling 
over  the  weltering  form  of  Middleton,  who  pressed  her,  as  she  lay  there,  in 
the  convulsive  energy  of  death,  to  his  almost  pulseless  heart. 

A  vague  con.sciousness  of  being  raised  from  the  earth,  borne  rapidly  through 
the  air,  came  over  her  even  in  her  insensibihty,  but  without  any  definite  per- 
ception of  the  present,  or  recollection  of  the  past,  until  she  suddenly,  when 
about  midway  between  the  fort  and  the  point  of  wood  that  led  to  Chabouiga, 
opened  her  eyes,  and  found  herself  in  the  firm  grasp  of  an  Indian,  whose 
features,  even  in  the  hasty  and  fearful  glance  she  cast  at  the  countenance,  she 
fancied  were  not  inifamiliar  to  her.  Not  another  human  being  was  to  be  seen 
in  the^leanng  at  that  moment ;  for  all  the  savages,  including  even  the  women 
assembled  outside,  were  within  the  fort  assisting  in  the  complex  horrors  of 
murder,  fire,  and  spoliation.  In  the  wild  energy  of  returning  reason  and  de- 
spair, the  wretched  girl  straggled  viokmtly  to  free  herself;  and  so  far  with 
success,  that  the  Indian,  whose  strength  was  evidently  fast  failing  him.  was 
compelled  to  quit  his  hold  and  suffer  her  to  walk.  No  sooner  did  Miss  de  Hal- 
dimar feel  her  feet  touching  the  ground,  when  she  again  renewed  her  exertions 
to  free  herself  and  return  to  the  fort ;  but  the  Indian  held  her  firmly  secured 
by  a  leathern  thong  he  now  attached  to  her  waist,  and  every  attempt  proved 
■abortive.  He  was  evidently  much  disconcerted  at  her  resistance ;  and  more 
than  once  she  expected,  and  almost  hoped,  the  tomahawk  at  his  side  would  be 
made  to  revenge  him  for  the  test  to  which  his  patience -was  subjected:  but 
Miss  de  Haldimar  looked  in  vain  for  the  expression  of  ferocity  and  impatience 
that  might  have  been  expected  from  him  at  such  a  moment.  There  was  an 
air  of  mournfulncss,  and  even  kindness,  niingled  with  severity,  on  his  smooth 
brow  that  harmonised  ill  with  the  horrible  atrocities  in  M'hich  he  had,  to  all 
appearance,  covered  as  he  was  with  blood,  been  so  recent  and  prominent  an 
actor.  The  Indian  remarked  her  surprise ;  and  then  looking  hurriedly,  but 
keenly,  around,  and  finding  no  living  being  near  them,  suddenly  tore  the  shirt 
from  his  chest,  and  emphatically  pronouncing  the  names  "  Oucanasta,"  '•  De 
Haldimar,"  disclosed  to  .the  still  struggling  captive  the  bosom  of  a  woman. 
After  which,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  wood,  and  finally  towards  Detroit, 


wacousta;    ou,    the     prophecy.  155 

she  gave  Miss  de  Ilaldiinar  to  understand  that  was  the  course  intended  to  be 
pursued. 

In  a  moment  the  resistance  of  the  hxttcr  ceased.  She  at  once  recognised  the 
young  Indian  woman  whom  her  cousin  had  i-escued  from  death  :  and  aware,  as 
she  was,  of  the  strong  attachment  that  had  subsequently  bound  her  to  her  pre- 
server, she  was  at  no  loss  to  understand  how  she  niighl  have  been  led  to  de- 
vote herself  to  the  rescue  of  one  whom,  it  was  proljable,  she  knew  to  be  his 
attianced  wife.  Unce,  indeed,  a  suspicion  of  a  diU'orcnt  nature  crossed  her 
mind;  for  the  thought  occurred  to  her  she  had  only  Iktu  savod  from  the  gen- 
eral doom  to  be  made  the  victim  of  private  revenge — that  it  was  only  to  glut  the 
jealous  vengeance  of  the  woman  at  a  more  dehberate  hour,  she  had  been  made 
a  temporary  captive.  The  apprehension,  however,  was  no  sooner  formed  than 
extinguished.  Bitterly,  deeply  as  she  had  reason  to  abhor  the  treachery  and 
cunnnig  of  the  dark  race  to  which  her  captor  belonged,  there  was  an  expres- 
sion of  openness  and  sincerity,  and  even  imploringness,  in  the  countenance  of 
Oucanasta,  which,  added  to  her  former  knowledge  of  the  woman,  at  once  set 
this  fear  at  rest,  inducing  her  to  look  upon  her  rather  in  the  character  of  a  dis- 
interested savior,  than  iu  that  of  a  cruel  and  vindictive  enemy,  goaded  on  to 
the  indulgence  of  malignant  hate  by  a  spirit  of  rivalry  and  revenge.  Besides, 
even  were  her  crudest  ll-ars  to  be  realised,  what  could  await  her  worse  than 
the  past  1  If  she  could  even  succeed  in  getting  away,  it  would  only  be  to  re- 
turn upon  certain  death  ;  and  death  only  coidd  await  her.  however  refined  the 
tortures  accompanying  its  infliction,  in  the  event  of  her  quietly  following  and 
yielding  herself  up  to  the  guidance  of  one  wlio  offered  this  slight  consolation, 
at  least,  that  slie  was  one  of  her  own  sex.  But  Miss  delBvaldimar  wa.s  willing 
to  attribute  more  generous  motives  to  the  Indian ;  and  fortified  in  her  iirst 
impression,  she  signified  by  signs,  that  seemed  to  be  perfectly  intelligible  to 
her  companion,  she  appreciated  her  friendly  intentions,  and  confided  wholly 
in  her. 

No  longer  checked  in  her  efforts,  Oucanasta  now  directed  her  course  towards 
the  wood,  still  holding  the  thong  that  remained  attached  to  Miss  de  Haldimar's 
waist,  probabl}^  with  a  view  to  deceive  any  individuals  from  the  villages  on 
whom  they  might  chance  to  fall,  into  the  belief  that  the  English  girl  was  in 
reality  licr  prisoner.  No  sooner,  however,  had  they  entered  the  depths  of  the 
forest,  when,  instead  of  following  the  patli  that  led  to  Chabouiga,  Oucanasta 
took  a  direction  to  the  left,  and  then  moving  nearly  on  a  parallel  hne  with  the 
course  of  the  lake,  continued  her  flight  as  rapidly  as  the  rude  nature  of  the 
underwood,  and  the  unpractised  feet  of  her  companion,  would  permit.  They 
had  travelled  in  this  manner  for  upwards  of  four  hours,  without  meeting  a 
breathing  thing,  or  even  so  much  as  exchanging  a  sound  between  themselves, 
when,  at  length,  the  Indian  stopped  at  the  edge  of  a  deep  cavern-like  excava- 
tion in  the  earth,  produced  by  the  tearing  up,  by  the  wild  tempest,  of  an  enor- 
mous pine.  Into  this  she  descended,  and  presently  re-appeared  with  several 
blankets,  and  two  light  painted  paddles.  Then  unloosing  the  thong  from  the 
waist  of  the  exhausted  girl,  she  proceeded  to  disguise  her  in  one  of  the  blankets 
in  the  manner  already  shown,  securing  it  over  the  head,  throat,  and  shoulders 
witli  the  badge  of  captivitj^^  now  no  longer  necessary  for  her  purpose.  She 
then  struck  off  at  right  angles  from  the  course  they  had  ]irL\:()Usly  pursued; 
and  in  less  than  twenty  minutes  both  stood  on  the  lake  >h  ,11,.-);]  )a  n-ntly  at  a  great 
.  distance  from  the  point  whence  the}'  had  originall}-  sit  oiii.  1  hf  Indian  gazed 
for  a  moment  anxiously  before  her ;  and  then,  with  an  exclamation,  evidently 
meant  to  convey  a  sense  of  pleasure  and  satisfaction,  pointed  forward  upon  the 
lake.  Miss  de  Ilaldimar  followed,  with  eager  and  aching  eyes,  the  direction 
of  her  finger,  and  beheld  the  well  known  schooner  evidently  urging  her  flight 
towards  the  entrance  of  the  Sinclair.  Oh,  how  her  sick  heart  seemed  ready 
to  burst  at  that  moment!  From  the  vessel  she  turned  her  eyes  away  upon  the 
distant  shore,  v/hich  it  was  fast  quitting,  and  beheld  a  cokunn  of  mingled  flame 
and  smoke  towering  far  above  the  hori/'.on,  and  attesting  the  universal  wreck 


156  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy. 

of  what  had  so  long  been  endeared  to  hev  as  her  home.  And  slie  had  wit- 
nessed all  this,  and  3^et  had  strength  to  survive  it ! 

The  courage  of  the  unhappy  girl  had  hitherto  been  sustained  by  no  effort 
of  volition  of  her  own.  From  the  motnent  when,  discovering  a  friend  in  Ou- 
canasla,  she  had  yielded  herself  unresistingly  to  the  guidance  of  that  generous 
creature,  her  feelings  had  been  characterised  by  an  obtuseness  strongly  in 
contrast  with  the  high  excitement  that  liad  distinguished  her  previous  man- 
ner. A  dreamy  recollection  of  some  past  horror,  it  is  true  pursued  her  dur- 
ing her  rapid  and  speechless  flight ;  but  any  analysis  of  the  causes  conducing 
to  that  horror,  her  subjugated  faculties  were  unable  to  enter  upon.  She  had 
followed  her  conductor  almost  without  consciousness,  and  vdth  such  deep  ab- 
sorption of  spirit,  that  she  neither  once  conjectured  whither  they  were  going, 
nor  what  was  to  be  the  final  issue  of  their  flight.  But  now,  when  she  stood 
on  the  lake  shore,  suddenly  awakened,  as  if  bj^  some  startling  spell,  to  every 
harrowing  recollection,  and  with  lier  attention  assisted  by  objects  long  en- 
deared, and  rendered  familiar  to  her  gaze — when  she  beheld  the  vessel  that 
had  last  borne  her  across  the  still  bosom  of  the  Huron,  fleeing  for  ever  from 
the  fortress  where  her  arrival  had  been  so  joyousl}^  hailed — when  she  saw 
that  fortress  itself  presenting  the  hideous  spectacle  of  a  blackened  mass  of 
ruins  fast  crumbhng  into  nothingness,  a  faintness.  as  of  death,  came  over  her, 
and  she  sank  without  life  on  the  beach.  Of  what  passed  afterwards,  she  had 
no  recollection.  She  neither  knew  how  slio  had  got  into  tlie  canoe,  nor  what 
means  the  Indian  had  taken  to  secure  her  approach  to  the  schooner.  She  had 
no  consciousness  of  having  been  removed  to  the  bark  of  the  Canadian,  nor 
did  she  even  remember  having  risen  and  gazed  through  the  foliage  on  the 
vessel  at  her  side ;  but  she  presumed,  the  chill  air  of  the  morning  having 
partially  restored  pulsation,  she  had  moved  instinctively  from  her  recumbent 
position  to  the  spot  in  which  her  spectre-like  countenance  had  been  perceived 
by  Fuller.  The  first  moment  of  her  returning  reason  was  that  when,  stand- 
ing on  the  deck  of  the  schooner,  she  found  herself  so  unespectedlj^  clasped  to 
the  heart  of  her  lover. 

Twilight  had  entirely  passed  away  when  Miss  de  Haldimar  completed  her 
sad  narrative ;  and  already  the  crew,  roused  to  exertion  by  the  swelling 
breeze,  were  once  more  engaged  in  weighing  the  anchor,  and  setting  and 
trimming  the  sails  of  the  schooner,  which  latter  soon  began  to  shcot  round 
the  concealing  headland  into  the  opening  of  the  Sinclair.  A  deathlike  silenc^ 
prevailed  throughout  the  decks  of  the  little  bark,  as  her  bows,  dividing  the 
waters  of  the  basin  that  formed  its  source,  gradually  immerged  into  the  cur- 
rent of  that  deep  but  narrow  river ;  so  narrow,  indeed,  that  from  its  centre 
the  least  active  of  the  mariners  might  have  leaped  without  difficulty  to  either 
shore.  This  was  the  most  critical  part  of  the  dangerous  navigation.  With 
a  wide  seaboard,  and  full  command  of  their  helm,  they  had  nothing  to  fear ; 
but  so  limited  was  the  passage  of  this  river,  it  was  with  difficulty  the  yards 
and  masts  of  the  schooner  could  be  kept  disengaged  from  the  projecting 
boughs  of  the  dense  forest  that  lined  the  adjacent  shores  to  their  very  junc- 
tion with  the  water.  The  darkness  of  the  night,  moreover,  while  it  promised 
to  shield  them  from  the  observation  of  the  savages,  contributed  greatly  to 
perplex  their  movements  ;  for  such  was  the  abiaiptness  with  which  the  river 
wound  itself  round  in  various  directions,  that  it  required  a  man  constantly 
on  the  alert  at  the  bows  to  apprise  the  helmsman  of  the  course  he  should, 
steer,  to  avoid  collision  with  the  shores.  Canopies  of  weaving  branches  met 
in  various  directions  far  above  their  heads,  and  through  these  the  schooner 
glided  with  a  silence  that  might  have  called  up  tlie  idea  of  a  Stygian  freight. 
Meanwhile,  the  men  stood  to  their  guns,  concealing  the  matches  in  their  wai- 
buckets  as  before ;  and  while  they  strained  both  ear  and  eye  through  the 
surrounding  gloom  to  discover  the  slightest  evidence  of  danger,  grasped  the 
handles  of  their  cutlasses  witli  a  firm  hand,  ready  to  unsheathe  them  at  the 
first  intimation  of  alarm. 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      O  U  ,     T  H  K      P  R  O  1*  H  E  C  Y  .  1  ST 

At  the  suggestion  of  the  boatswain,  who  hinted  at  the  necessity  of  having 
cleared  decks,  Captain  dc  Ilaldimar  had  prevailed  on  his  unfortunate  relatives 
to  retire  to  the  small  cabin  arranged  for  their  reception  ;  and  hero  they  were 
attended  hy  an  aged  female,  who  had  long  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  crew, 
and  acted  in  the  twofold  character  of  laundress  and  sempstress.  lie  himself, 
with  Sir  Everard,  continued  on  deck  watching  the  progress  of  the  vessel  with 
an  anxiety  that  became  more  intense  at  each  succeeding  hour.  Hitherto  their 
course  had  been  unimpeded,  save  l)y  the  obstacles  already  enumerated ;  and 
they  had  now,  at  an  liour  before  dawn,  gained  a  point  that  promised  a  speedy 
termination  to  tlfeir  dMuger  and  perplexities.  Before  them  lay  a  reach  in 
the  i-iver,  enveloped  in  more  than  oi'dinarj^  gloom,  produced  by  the  continuous 
weaving  of  the  tops  of  the  overhanging  trees  ;  and  in  the  perspective,  a  gleam 
of  relieving  light,  denoting  the  near  vicinity  of  the  lake  that  lay  at  the  oppo- 
site extremity  of  the  Sinclair,  whose  name  it  also  bore.  This  was  the  nar- 
rowest part  of  the  river ;  and  so  approximate  were  its  shores,  that  the  vessel 
in  her  course  could  not  fail  to  come  in  contact  both  with  the  obtruding  foliage 
of  the  forest  and  the  dense  bulrushes  skirting  the  edge  of  either  bank. 

"  If  we  get  safe  through  tliis  here  place,"'  said  the  boatswain,  in  a  rough 
whisper  to  his  anxious  and  attentive  auditors,  '■  I  think  as  how  I'll  venture 
to  answer  for  the  craft.  I  can  see  daylight  dancing  upon  the  lake  already. 
Ten  minutes  raore  and  she  will  be  there."  Then  tm-ning  to  the  man  at  the 
helm, — '•  Keep  her  in  the  centre  of  the  stream,  Jim.  Don't  you  see  you're 
bugging  the  weather  shore  ?" 

"It  would  take  the  devil  himself  to  tell  which  is  the  centre,"  growled  the 
sailor,  in  the  same  suppressed  tone.  '•  One  might  steer  with  one's  eyes  shut 
in  such  a  queer  place  as  this,  and  never  be  no  worser  off  than  with  them  open." 

"  Stead)'  her  helm,  steady."  rejoined  Mullins,  "  it's  as  dark  as  pitch,  to  be 
sure,  but  the  passage  is  straight  as  an  arrow,  and  with  a  steady  helm  you 
can't  miss  it.     Make  for  the  light  ahead." 

"  Abaft  there  !"  hurriedly  and  loudly  shouted  the  man  on  the  look-out  at 
the  bows,  "  there's  a  tree  lying  across  the  river,  and  we're  just  upon  it." 

While  he  yet  spoke,  and  before  the  boatswain  could  give  such  instructions 
as  the  emergency  required,  the  vessel  suddenly  struck  against  the  obstacle  in 
question  ;  but  the  concussion  was  not  of  the  vioient  nature  that  might  have 
been  anticipated.  The  course  of  the  schooner,  at  no  one  period  particularly 
rapid,  had  been  considerably  checked  since  her  entrance  into  the  gloomy  arch, 
in  the  centre  of  which  her  present  accident  had  occurred  ;  so  that  it  was 
without  immediate  injmy  to  her  hull  and  spars  she  had  been  thus  suddenly 
brought  to.  But  this  was  not  the  most  alarming  part  of  the  affair.  Captain 
de  Haldimar  and  Sir  Everard  both  recollected,  that  in  making  the  same  pas- 
sage, not  forty-eight  hours  previously,  the)'-  had  encountered  no  obstacle  of 
the  kind,  and  a  misgiving  of  danger  rose  simultaneously  to  the  hearts  of  each. 
It  was,  however,  a  thing  of  too  common  occurrence,  where  storm  and  tempest 
were  so  prevalent  and  partial,  to  create  more  than  a  mere  temporary  alarm  ; 
for  it  was  quite  as  probable  the  barrier  had  been  interposed  by  some  fitful 
outburst  of  nature,  as  that  it  arose  from  design  on  the  part  of  their  enemies : 
and  when  the  ves.sel  had  continued  stationary  for  some  minutes,  without  the 
prepared  and  expectant  crew  discovering  the  slightest  indication  of  attack, 
the  former  impression  was  preserved  by  the  oflicers — at  least  avowedly  to 
those  around. 

"  Bear  a  hand,  my  lad.?,  and  cut  away,"  at  length  ordered  the  boatswain, 
in  a  low  but  clear  tone  ;  "  half  a  dozen  at  each  end  of  the  stick,  and  we  shall 
soon  clear  a  passage  for  the  craft." 

A  dozen  sailors  grasped  their  axes,  and  hastened  forward  to  execute  the 
command.  They  .sprang  lightly  from  the  entangled  bows  of  the  schooner,  and 
diverging  in  equal  numbers  moved  to  either  extremity  of  the  follen  tree. 

"  This  is  sailing  through  the  heart  of  the  American  forest  with  a  vengeance," 
muttered  Mullins,  whose  anuoyanco  at  their  detention  was  strongly  manifest- 


158      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

ed  as  he  paced  up  and  down  the  deck.  "  Shiver  my  topsails,  if  it  isn't  bad 
enough  to  clear  the  Sinclair  at  any  time,  much  more  so  when  one's  running 
for  one's  life,  and  not  a  whisper's  length  from  one's  enemies.  Do  you  know, 
Captain,"  abruptly  checking  his  movement,  and  famiharly  placing  his  hand  on 
the  shoulder  of  De  Haldimar,  "  the  last  time  we  sailed  through  this  very 
reach  I  couldn't  help  telling  poor  Captain  Danvers,  God  rest  his  soul,  what  a 
nice  spot  it  was  for  an  Ingian  ambuscade,  if  thej^  had  onljr  gumption  enough 
think  of  it." 

"  Hark  !"  said  the  officer,  whose  heart,  eye,  and  ear  were  painfully  oh  the 
alert,  "  what  rustling  is  that  we  hear  overhead  ?" 

"  It's  Jack  Fuller,  no  doubt,  your  honor  ;  I  sent  him  up  to  clear  away  the 
branches  from  the  main  topmast  rigging."  Then  raising  his  head,  and  ele- 
vating his  voice,  "  Hilloa  !  aloft  there  !" 

The  only  answer  was  a  groan,  followed  by  a  deeper  commotion  among  the 
rustling  foliage. 

''Why,  what  the  devil's  the  matter  with  you  now,  Jackl"  pursued  the 
boatswain,  in  a  voice  of  angry  vehemence.  "Are  ye  scared  at  another  ghost, 
that  ye  keep  groaning  there  after  that  fashion  ?" 

At  that  moment  a  heavy  dull  mass  was  heard  tumbling  through  the  upper 
rigging  of  the  schooner  towards  the  deck,  and  presently  a  human  form  fell  at 
the  verjr  feet  of  the  small  group,  composed  of  the  two  officers  and  the  indivi- 
dual who  had  last  spoken. 

"  A  light,  a  light !"  shouted  the  boatswain  ;  "  the  foolish  chap  has  lost  his 
hold  through  fear,  and  ten  to  one  if  he  hasn't  cracked  his  skull-piece  for  his 
pains.     Quick  there  with  a  light,  and  let's  see  what  we  can  do  for  him." 

The  attention  of  all  had  been  arrested  by  the  sound  of  the  falling  weight, 
and  as  one  of  the  sailors  now  advanced,  bearing  a  dark  lantern  from  below, 
the  whole  of  the  crew,  with  the  exception  of  those  employed  on  the  fallen  tree, 
gathered  themselves  in  a  knot  round  the  motionless  form  of  the  prostrate  man. 
But  no  sooner  had  their  e3'es  encountered  the  object  of  their  interest,  when 
each  individual  started  suddenly  and  involuntarily  back,  baring  his  cutlass, 
and  drawing  forth  his  pistol,  the  whole  presenting  a  group  of  countenances 
strongly  marked  by  various  shades  of  consternation  and  alarm,  even  while 
their  attitudes  were  those  of  men  prepared  for  some  fierce  and  desperate 
danger.  It  was  indeed  Fuller  whom  they  beheld,  but  not  laboring,  as  the 
boatswain  had  imagined,  under  the  mere  influence  of  superstitious  fear.  He 
was  dead,  and  the  blood  flowing  from  a  deep  wound,  inflicted  by  a  sharp  in- 
strument in  his  chest,  and  the  scalped  head,  too  plainly  told  the  manner  of 
his  death,  and  the  danger  that  awaited  them  all. 

A  pause  ensued,  but  it  was  short.  Before  any  one  could  find  words  to  re- 
mark on  the  horrible  circumstances,  the  appalling  war-cry  of  the  savages 
burst  loudly  from  every  quarter  upon  the  ears  of  the  devoted  crew.  In  the 
desperation  of  the  moment,  several  of  the  men  clutched  their  cutlasses  be- 
tween their  teeth,  and  seizing  the  concealed  matches,  ru.shed  to  their  respec- 
tive stations  at  the  guns.  It  was  in  vain  the  boatswain  called  out  to  them,  in 
a  voice  of  stern  authority,  to  desist,  intimating  that  their  only  protection  lay 
in  the  reservation  of  the  fire  of  their  batteries.  Goaded  and  excited,  bevond 
the  power  of  resistance  to  an  impulse  that  set  all  subordination  at  defiance, 
they  applied  the  matches,  and  almost  at  the  same  instant  the  terrific  dis- 
charge of  both  broadsides  took  place,  rocking  the  vessel  to  the  water's  edge, 
and  reverberating,  throughout  .the  confined  space  in  which  she  lay,  like  the 
dea<lly  explosion  of  some  deeply  excavated  mine. 

Scarcely  had  the  guns  been  fired,  when  the  seamen  became  sensible  of  their 
im})rudence.  The  echoes  were  yet  struggling  to  force  a  passage  through  the 
dense  forest,  when  a  second  yell  of  the  Indians  announced  the  fiercest  joy  and 
triumph,  unmixed  by  disaster,  at  the  result;  and  then  the  quick  leapmg  of 
many  forms  could  be  heard,  as  they  divided  the  crashing'  underwood,  and 
rushed  forward  to  close  with  their  prey.     It  was  evident,  from  the  difference 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      0  U  ,     THE      PROPHECY.  159 

of  sound,  their  first  cry  had  been  pealed  forth  while  lying;  prostnitc  on  the 
gi-ound,  and  secure  from  the  bullets,  whose  harmless  discharjre  that  cry  was 
intended  to  provoke  ;  for  now  the  voices  seemed  to  rise  progressively  from  the 
earth,  until  they  reached  the  level  of  each  individual  hei.2:ht.  and  were  already 
almost  hotly  breathing  in  the  cai's  of  those  they  were  destined  to  fill  vrith  il- 
limitable dismay. 

'■  Shiver  my  topsails,  but  this  comes  of  disobey  in,"-  orders,"  roared  tlie  boat- 
swain, in  a  voice  of  mingled  auger  and  vexation.  "The  Ingians  are  quite  as 
cunning  iis  ourselves,  aud  arn't  to  be  frighted  that  way.  Quick,  every  cutlass 
and  pistol  to  his  gangwa}'^,  and  let's  do  om-  best.  Pass  the  word  forward  for 
the  axemen  to  return  to  their  quarters." 

Recovered  from  their  first  paroxysm  of  alarm,  the  men  at  length  became 
sensible  of  the  presence  of  a  directing  power,  which,  humble  as  it  was,  their 
long  habits  of  discipline  had  taught  tliem  to  respect,  and,  headed  on  the  one 
side  by  Captain  de  Ilaldimar,  and  on  the  other  by  Sir  Everard  Valletort, 
neither  of  whom,  however,  entertained  the  most  remote  chance  of  success, 
flew,  as  commanded,  to  their  respective  gangwaj's.  The  yell  of  the  Indians 
had  ceased,  aud  all  was  hushed  into  stillness  ;  but  as  the  anxious  ami  quick- 
sighted  officers  gazed  over  the  bulwarks,  they  fancied  f  -  '  -  '.oven 
through  the  deep  gloom  that  every  where  prevailed.  < !  sting 
in  ciiutious  and  eager  attitudes,  on  the  very  verge  of  i  i  .  -i  dis- 
tance of  little  more  than  half  pistol  shot.  Every  heart  b-it  ^\  iUi  txpjctancy, 
— every  eye  was  riveted  intently  in  front,  to  watch  and  meet  the  first  move- 
ments of  their  foes,  but  not  a  sound  of  approach  was  audible  to  the  equally 
attentive  ear.  In  this  state  of  aching  suspense  thej-  might  have  continued 
about  live  minutes,  when  suddenlj^  their  hearts  were  made  to  quail  by  a  third 
ciy,  that  came,  not  as  previously,  from  the  banks  of  the  ri^'  -  '■  ■'  •'^-^m  the 
very  centre  of  their  own  decks,  and  from  the  topmast  :  I'  the 
schooner.  So  suddden  and  unexpected  too  was  this  fresh  > ;  -olbre 
the- two  partiis  ".  I  ii:i>  1 1  turn,  and  assume  a  new  posture  nl  Iscvi-c,  seve- 
ral of  them  \:::i\  ;':  '■■'■  la'len  under  the  butchering  blades  of  their  enemies. 
Then  commeiirv  i  :i  (h  (..rate  but  short  conflict,  mingled  with  yelhngs,  that 
again  were  answered  irom  every  point ;  and  rapidly  gliding  down  the  pendant 
ropes,  were  to  be  seen  the  active  aud  dusky  forms  of  men,  swelling  the  num- 
ber of  assailants,  who  had  gained  the  deck  in  the  same  noiseless  manner,  until 
resistance  became  almost  hopeless. 

"  Ha !  I  hear  the  footsteps  of  our  lads  at  last,"  exclaimed  MuUins  exult- 
ingly  to  his  comrades,  as  he  finislied  despatching  a  third  savage  with  his 
sturdy  weapon.     "  Quick,  men,  quick,  up  with  hatchet  and  cutlass,  and  take 

them  in  the  rear.     If  we  are  to  die,  let's  die "  game,  he  would  perhaps 

have  added,  but  death  arrested  the  word  on  his  lips ;  and  his  corpse  rolled 
along  the  deck  until  its  further  progress  was  stopped  by  the  stiffened  body  of 
the  unhappy  F  idler. 

Notwithstanding  the  fall  of  their  brave  leader,  and  the  whoopings  of  their 
enemies,  the  flagging  spirits  of  the  men  were  for  a  moment  excited  by  the  an- 
nouncement of  the  return  even  of  the  small  force  of  the  axemen,  and  they 
defended  themselves  with  a  courage  and  determination  worthy  of  a  better 
result ;  but  when,  by  the  lurid  light  of  the  torches,  now  lying  burning  about 
the  decks,  they  turned  and  beheld  not  their  companions,  but  a  fresh  band  of 
Indians,  at  whose  pouch  belts  dangled  the  reeking  scalps  of  their  murdered 
fi-iends,  they  at  once  relinquished  the  combat  as  hopeless,  and  gave  themselves 
imresitingly  to  be  bound  by  their  captors. 

Meanwhile  the  cousins  experienced  a  renewal  of  all  those  horrors  from 
which  their  distracted  mmds  had  been  temporarily  relieved ;  and,  petrified 
with  alarm,  as  they  lay  in  the  solitary  berth  that  contained  them  both,  en- 
dured sufferings  infinitely  more  terrible  than  death  itself.  The  early  part  of 
the  tumult  they  had  noticed  almost  without  comprehending  its  cause,  and  but 
for  the  terrific  cry  of  the  Indians  that  had  preceded  them,  would  have  mista- 


160      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy, 

ken  the  deafening  broadsides  for  the  blowing  up  of  the  vessel,  so  tremendous 
and  violent  had  been  the  concussion.  Nay,  there  -was  a  moment  when  Miss 
de  Haldimar  felt  a  pang  of  deep  disappointment  and  regret  at  the  misconcep- 
tion :  for.  with  the  fearful  recollection  of  past  events,  so  strongly  impressed  on 
her  bleeding  heart,  she  could  not  but  acknowledge,  that  to  be  engulfed  in  one 
general  and  disastrous  explosion,  was  mere}-  compared  with  the  alternative 
of  falling  into  the  hands  of  those  to  whom  her  loathing  spirit  had  been  too 
fatally  taught  to  deny  even  the  commonest  attributes  of  humanity.  As  for 
Clara,  she  had  not  the  power  to  think,  or  to  form  a  conjecture  on  the  subject: 
she  was  merely  sensible  of  a  repetition  of  the  horrible  scenes  from  which  she 
had  so  recently  been  snatched,  and  with  a  pale  cheek,  a  fixed  eye,  and  an  al- 
most pulseless  heart,  lay  without  motion  in  the  inner  side  of  the  berth.  The 
piteous  spectacle  of  her  cousin's  alarm  lent  a  forced  activity  to  the  despair  of 
Miss  de  Haldimar,  in  whom  apprehension  produced  that  strong  energy  of 
excitement  that  sometimes  gives  to  helplessness  the  character  of  true  courage. 
"With  the  increasing  clamor  of  appalling  conflict  on  deck,  this  excitement  grew 
at  every  moment  stronger,  until  it  finally  became  irrepressible,  so  that  at 
length,  when  through  the  cabin  windows  there  suddenly  streamed  a  flood  of 
yellow  light,  extinguishing  that  of  the  lamp  that  threw  its  flickering  beams 
around  the  cabin,  she  flung  herself  impetuously  from  the  berth,  and,  despite 
of  the  aged  and  trembling  female  who  attempted  to  detain  her,  burst  open 
the  narrow  entrance  to  the  cabin,  and  rusjied  up  the  steps  communicating 
with  the  deck. 

The  picture  that  there  met  her  eyes  was  at  once  graphic  and  fearful  in  the 
extreme.  On  either  side  of  the  river,  lines  of  streaming  torches  were  waved 
by  dusky  warriors  high  above  their  heads,  reflecting  the  grim  countenances, 
not  only  of  those  who  bore  them,  but  of  dense  groups  in  their  rear,  whose 
numbers  were  alone  concealed  by  the  foliage  of  the  forest  in  which  they  stood. 
From  the  branches  that  wove  themselves  across  the  centre  of  the  river,  and 
the  topmast  and  rigging  of  the  vessel,  the  same  strong  yellow  light,  produced 
by  the  bark  of  the  birch  tree  steeped  in  gum,  streamed  down  upon  the  decks 
below,  rendering  each  line  and  block  of  the  schooner  as  distinctly  visible  as  if 
it  had  been  noon  on  the  sunniest  of  those  far  distant  lakes.  The  deck  itself 
was  covered  with  the  bodies  of  slain  men — sailors  and  savages  mixed  togeth- 
er ;  and  amid  these  were  to  be  seen  fierce  warriors,  reclining  triumphantly 
and  indolently  on  their  rifles,  while  others  were  occupied  in  securing  the  arms 
of  their  captives  with  leathern  thongs  behind  their  backs.  The  silence  that 
now  prevailed  was  strongly  in  contrast  with,  and  even  more  fearful  than,  the 
horrid  shouts  by  which  it  had  been  preceded ;  and,  but  for  the  ghastly  coun- 
tenances of  the  captives,  and  the  quick  rolhng  eyes  of  the  savages,  Miss  de 
Haldimar  might  have  imagined  herself  the  sport  of  some  extraordinary  and 
exciting  illusion.  Her  glance  over  these  promment  features  in  the  tragedy 
had  been  cursory,  yet  accurate.  It  now  rested  on  one  that  had  more  imme- 
diate and  terrifying  interest  for  herself  At  a  few  paces  in  front  of  the  com- 
panion ladder,  and  with  their  backs  turned  towards  her,  stood  two  individuals, 
whose  attitudes  denoted  the  purpose  of  men  resolved  to  sell  with  their  lives 
alone  a  passage  to  a  tmll  fierce-looking  savage,  whose  countenance  betrayed 
every  mark  of  triumphant. and  deadly  passion,  while  he  apparently  hesitated 
whether  his  uplifted  arm  should  stay  the  weapon  it  wielded.  These  individ- 
uals were  Captain  de  Haldimar  and  Sir  Everard  Valletort ;  and  to  the  former 
of  these  the  attention  of  the  savage  was  more  immediately  and  exultingly 
directed ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  Miss  de  Haldimar  thought  she  could  read 
in  the  ferocious  expression  of  his  features  the  death-warrant  of  her  cousin. 
In  the  wild  terror  of  the  moment  she  gave  a  piercing  scream  that  was  answer- 
ed by  a  hundred  yelling  voices,  and  rushing  between  her  lover  and  his  enemy 
threw  herself  wildly  and  .supplicatingly  at  the  feet  of  the  latter.  Uttering  a 
savage  laugh,  the  monster  spurned  her  from  him  with  his  foot,  when,  quick 
as  thought,  a  pistol  was  discharged  within  a  few  inches  of  his  face ;  but,  with 


w  A  c  »)  i;  s  T  A  ;     OR,    i  n  v.    y  k  o  i'  h  e  c  y  .  101 

a  rapidity  equal  to  thai  of  his  a.s.Siiihuit,  lie  bent  aside  his  head,  and  the  ball 
passed  harmlessly  on.  The  yell  that  foUoweil  was  terrific  ;  and  while  it  was 
yet  swiUinj;-  into  fullness,  Captain  de  Ilaldimar  felt  an  iron  hand  furiously 
grappling  his  throat,  and,  ere  the  grasp  was  relinquished,  he  again  stood  the 
bound  and  passive  victim  of  the  warrior  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  interval  that  succeeded  to  the  last  council  scene  of  the  Indians  was 
passed  by  the  officers  of  Detroit  in  a  state  of  inexpressible  anxiety  and  doubt. 
The  fears  entertained  for  the  fate  of  their  companions,  who  had  set  out  in  the 
perilous  and  almost  forlorn  hope  of  reaching  Michillimackinac,  in  time  to  pre- 
vent the  consummation  of  the  threatened  treachery,  had,  in  some  degree,  if 
not  wholly,  been  allayed  by  the  story  narrated  by  the  Ottawa  chief.  It  was 
evident,  from  his  statement,  the  party  had  again  met,  and  been  engaged  in 
fearful  struggle  with  the  gigantic  warrior  they  had  all  so  much  reason  to  re- 
collect ;  and  it  was  equally  apparent,  that  in  that  struggle  they  had  been  suc- 
cessful. But  still,  so  many  obstacles  were  likely  to  be  opposed  to  tlieii* 
navigation  of  the  several  lakes  and  rivers  over  which  lay  their  course,  it  was 
almost  feared,  even  if  they  eventuklly  escaped  unharmed  themselves,  they 
could  not  possibly  reach  the  fort  in  time  to  communicate  the  danger  that 
awaited  their  friends.  It  is  true,  the  time  gained  by  Governor  de  Haldimar 
on  the  first  occasion  had  afforded  a  considerable  interval,  of  which  advantage 
might  be  taken  ;  but  it  was  also,  on  the  other  hand,  uncertain  whether  Pon- 
teac  had  commanded  the  same  delay  in  the  council  of  the  chiefs  investing 
Michillimackinac,  to  which  he  had  himself  assented.  Three  days  were  suffi- 
cient to  enable  an  Indian  warrior  to  perform  the  journey  by  land  ;  and  it  was 
chiefly  on  this  vague  and  uncertain  ground  they  based  whatever  little  of  hope 
was  entertained  on  the  subject. 

It  had  been  settled  at  the  departure  of  the  adventurers,  that  the  instant 
they  elfected  a  communication  with  the  schooner  on  Lake  Huron.  Franfois 
should  be  immediately  sent  back,  with  instructions  so  to  contrive  the  period 
of  his  return,  that  his  canoe  should  make  its  appearance  soon  after  daybreak 
at  the  nearest  extremity  of  Hog  Island,  the  position  of  which  has  been  de- 
scribed ill  a  previous  chapter.  From  this  point  a  certain  signal,  that  could 
be  easily  distinguished  with  the  aid  of  a  telescope,  was  to  be  made  from 
the  canoe,  which,  without  being  of  a  nature  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
savages,  was  yet  to  be  such  as  could  not  well  l)e  mistaken  by  the  garrison. 
This  was  a  precaution  adopted,  not  only  with  the  view  of  giving  the  earliest 
intimation  of  the  result  of  the  enterprise,  but  lest  the  Canadian  should  be 
prevented,  by  any  closer  investment  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  from  com- 
municating personally  with  the  fort  in  the  way  he  had  been  accustomed.    . 

It  will  easily  be  comprehended,  th(!refore,  that  as  the  period  ajjproached 
when  they  might  reasonably  look  for  the  return  of  Francois,  if  he  should  re- 
turn at  all,  the  nervous  anxiety  of  the  officers  liccame  more  and  more  devel- 
oped. Upwards  of  a  week  had  elapsed  since  tlie  departure  of  their  friends; 
and  already,  for  the  last  day  or  two,  their  impatience  had  led  them,  at  early 
dawn,  and  with  beating  hearts,  to  that  quarter  of  the  rampart  which  over- 
looked the  eastern  extremity  of  Hog  Island.  Hitherto,  however,  their  eager 
watching  had  been  in  vain.  As  far  as  our  recollection  of  the  Canadian  tradi- 
tion of  this  story  serves  us,  it  must  have  been  on  the  fourth  night  after  the 
final  discomfiture  of  the  plans  of  Ponteac,  and  the  tenth  from  the  de})arture 
of  the  adventurers,  that  the  officers  were  assembled  in  the  mess-room,  partak- 
ing of  the  .scanty  and  frugal  supper  to  which  their  long  conlinoment  had  re- 
duced them.  The  suoject  ot  rheir  conversation,  as  it  was  ever  of  their 
11 


162  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy. 

thoughts,  was  the  probable  fate  of  theii-  companions ;  and  many  and  various, 
although  all  equally  melancholy,  were  the  conjectures  offered  as  to  the  result. 
There  was  on  the  countenance  of  each,  that  deep  and  fixed  expression  of 
gloom,  which,  if  it  did  not  indicate  any  unmanliness  of  despair,  told  at  least 
that  hope  was  nearly  extinct :  but  more  especially  was  this  remarkable  in 
the  young  but  sadly  altered  Charles  de  Ilaldimar,  who,  with  a  vacant  eye 
and  a  pre-occupied  manner,  seemed  wholly  abstracted  from  the  scene  before 
him. 

All  was  silence  in  the  body  of  the  fort.  The  men  off  duty  had  lon^  since 
retired  to  rest  in  their  clothes,  and  only  the  "  All's  well !"  of  the  sentinels 
was  heard  at  intervals  of  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  as  the  cry  echoed  from  mouth 
to  mouth  in  the  line  of  circuit.  Suddenly,  however,  between  two  of  those 
intervals,  and  during  a  pause  in  the  languid  conversation  of  the  officers,  the  sharp 
challenge  of  a  sentinel  was  heard,  and  then  quick  steps  on  the  rampart,  as  of 
men  hastening  to  the  point  whence  the  challenge  had  been  given.  The  officers, 
whom  this  new  excitement  seemed  to  arouse  into  fresh  activity,  hurriedly 
quitted  the  room ;  and  with  as  little  noise  as  possible,  gained  the  spot  where 
the  voice  had  been  heard.  Several  men  were  bending  eagerly  over  the  ram- 
part, and,  with  their  muskets  at  the  recover,  riveting  their  gaze  on  a  dark 
and  motionless  object  that  lay  on  the  verge  of  the  thtch  immediately  beneath 
them. 

"  What  have  you  here,  Mitchell  ?"  asked  Captain  Blessington.  who  was  in 
command  of  the  guard,  and  who  had  recognised  the  gruff  voice  of  the  veteran 
in  the  challenge  just  given. 

"  An  American  burnt  log,  your  honor,"  muttered  the  soldier,  "  if  one  was 
to  judge  from  its  stillness  ;  but  if  it  is,  it  must  have  been  rolled  there  within 
the  last  minute  ;  for  I'U  take  my  aflBdavy  it  wasn't  there  when  I  passed  last 
in  my  beat." 

"  An  American  burnt  log.  indeed  !  it's  some  rascal  of  a  spy,  rather,"  re- 
marked Captain  Erskine.  •'  Who  knows  but  it  may  be  our  big  friend,  come 
to  pay  us  a  visit  again  ?  And  yet  he  is  not  half  long  enough  for  him,  either. 
Can't  you  try  and  tickle  him  with  the  bayonet,  any  of  you  feUows,  and  see 
whether  he  is  made  of  flesh  and  blood  ?" 

Although  tliis  observation  was  made,  almost  without  object,  it  being  totally 
impossible  for  any  musket,  even  with  the  addition  of  its  bayonet,  to  reach 
more  than  half  way  across  the  ditch,  the  several  sentinels  threw  themselves 
on  their  chests,  and  stretching  over  the  rampart  as  far  as  possible,  made  the 
attempt  to  reach  the  suspicious  looking  object  that  lay  beyond.  No  sooner, 
however,  had  their  arms  been  extended  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  utterly 
jiowerless,  when  the  dark  mass  was  seen  to  roll  away  in  an  opposite  direction, 
and  with  such  rapidity  that,  before  the  men  could  regain  their  feet  and  level 
their  muskets,  it  had  entirely  disappeared  from  their  view. 

"  Cleverly  managed,  to  give  the  red  skin  his  due,"  half  laughingly  observed 
Captain  Erskine.  while  his  brother  officers  continued  to  fix  their  eyes  in 
astonishment  on  the  spot  so  recently  occupied  by  the  strange  object ;  "  but 
what  the  devil  could  be  his  motive  for  lying  there  so  long  ?  Not  playing  the 
eaves-dropper,  surely ;  and  yet,  if  he  meant  to  have  picked  off  a  sentinel,  what 
was  to  have  prevented  him  from  doing  it  sooner  ?" 

"  He  had  evidently  no  arms,"  said  Ensign  13elmc. 

"  No,  nor  legs  either,  it  would  appear,"  resumed  the  literal  Erskine.  "  Ciu"se 
me  if  I  ever  saw  anything  in  the  shape  of  a  human  form  bundled  together 
in  that  manner." 

"  I  mean  he  had  no  fire-arras — no  rifle,"  piu-sued  Delme. 

'•  And  if  he  had,  he  certainly  would  have  rifled  one  of  us  of  a  life,"  con- 
tinued the  captain,  laughing  at  liis  own  conceit.  "'  But  come,  the  bird  is  flown, 
and  we  have  only  to  "thank  ourselves  for  having  been  so  egregiously  duped. 
Had  Valletort  been  here,  he  would  have  given  a  different  account  of  him," 

"  Hist !  listen  !"  exclaimed  Lieutenant  Johnstone,  calling  the  attention  of 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE     P  R  O  P  11  K  C  Y  .  163 

the  parly  to  a  peculiar  aud  low  soiiml  in  the  directioi)  in  which  the  supposed 
Indian  had  departed. 

It  was  repeated,  and  in  a  plaintive  tone,  indicating  a  desire  to  propitiate. 
Soon  atter\Aards  a  human  form  was  seen  advancing  slowl}"^,  but  without  show 
either  of  concealment  or  hostility  in  its  movements.  It  finally  remained 
stationary  on  the  spot  where  the  dark  and  shapeless  mass  had  been  first  per- 
ceived. 

'•  Another  Oucanasta  for  De  Ilaldimar,  no  doubt,"  observed  Captain 
Erskine,  after  a  moment's  pause.  "  These  grenadiers  carry  everything  before 
them  as  well  in  love  as  in  war."  The  error  of  the  good-natured  othcer  was, 
however,  obvious  to  all  but  himself.  The  figure,  which  was  now  distinctly 
traced  in  outline  for  that  of  a  warrior,  stood  boldly  and  fearlessly  on  the  brink 
of  the  ditch,  holding  up  its  left  arm,  in  tlie  hand  of  which  dangled  something 
that  was  visible  in  the  starlight,  and  pointiiig  energetically  to  this  pendant- 
object  with  the  other.  A  voice  from  one  of  the  party  now  addressed  the 
Indian  in  two  several  dialects,  but  without  eliciting  a  reply.  lie  either  an- 
derstood  not,  or  would  not  answer  the  question  proposed,  but  continued 
pointing  significantly  to  the  indistinct  object  which  he  still  held  m  an  elevated 
position. 

"  The  governor  must  be  apprised  of  this,"  observed  Captain  Blessington  to 
De  Haldimar,  who  was  his  subaltern  of  the  guard.  "  Hasten,  Charles,  to  ac- 
quaint yom-  father,  and  receive  his  orders." 

The  young  oflficer  wiUingly  obeyed  the  injunction  of  his  superior.  A  secret 
and  indefinable  hope  rushed  through  his  mind,  that  as  the  Indian  came  not  in, 
hostility,  he  might  be  the  bearer  of  some  communication  from  their  friend*;  j 
and  he  moved  rapidly  towards  that  part  of  the  building  occupied  by  his  father. 
The  light  of  a  lamp  suspended  over  the  piazza  leading  to  the  governor's 
rooms  reliecting  strongly  on  his  regimentals,  he  passed  unchallenged  by  the 
sentinels  posted  there,  and  uninterruptedly  gained  a  door  that  opened  on  a 
narrow  passage,  at  the  further  extremit)-  of  which  was  the  sitting-room  usually 
occupiecl  by  his  parent.  This  again  was  entered  from  the  same  passage  by  a 
second  door,  the  upper  part  of  w'hich  was  of  common  glass,  enabling  any  one 
on  the  outside  to  trace  ^vith  facility  every  object  within  when  the  place  was 
lighted  up. 

A  glance  was  sufficient  to  satisfy  th,e  youth  his  fiither  was  not  in  the  room  ;  al- 
though there  was  strong  evidence  he  iiad  not  i-etired  for  the  night.  In  the  middle 
of  the  floor  stood  an  oaken  table,  and  on  this  lay  •in  oiscn  writing  desk,  with  a 
candle  on  each  side,  the  wicks  of  which  had  bmnl  .'d  iuii'j;  ;!s  to  throw  a  partial 
gloom  over  the  surrounding  wainscotting.  SciUtcrcri  ■,\','n\t  the  table  and  desk 
were  a  number  of  letters  that  had  apparently  been  just  looked  ,it  or  read  :  and  m 
the  midst  of  these  an  open  case  of  red  morocco,  containing  a  miniature.  The 
appearance  of  these  letters,  thus  left  scattered  abo'.it  by  one  v/ho  was  scrtrfai- 
lously  exact  in  the  arrangement  of  his  papers,  added  to  the  circumstance  of 
the  neglected  and  burning  candles,  confirmed  the  young  ofiicer  in  an  impres- 
sion that  his  father,  overcome  by  fatigue,  had  retired  into  his  bed-room,  and 
fallen  unconsciously  asleep.  Imagining,  therefore,  he  could  not,  without  diiii- 
cult}',  succeed  in  making  himself  heard,  and  deeming  the  urgency  of  the  case 
required  it,  he  determined  to  wave  the  usual  ceremony  of  knocking,  and  petse- 
trate  to  his  father's  bed-room  unannounced.  The  glass  door  being  withwifc 
fastening  within,  easily  yielded  to  his  presure  of  the  latch  ;  but  as  he  passed  hy 
the  table,  af  strong  and  natural  feeling  of  curiosity  induced  him  to  cast  his  eye 
upon  the  miniature.  To  his  infinite  surprise,  nay,  almost  terror,  he  discovered 
it  was  that  of  his  mother — the  identical  portrait  which  his  sister  Clara  had 
Avorn  in  her  bosom  from  iufoncy,  and  which  he  had  seen  clasped  round  bear 
neck  on  the  \evy  deck  of  the  schooner  in  which  she  sailed  for  i^IichiUimackinac 
He  felt  there  coxdd  be  no  mistake,  for  only  one  miniature  of  the  sort  had  ever 
been  in  x)OSses9ion  of  the  family,  and  that  the  one  jus-t  accounted  for.  Almost 
stupified  at  what  he  ,saw,  and  s'v^r'-clv  crcditi'V.':  the  evidence  of  his  senses,  the 


164      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

young  ofBccr  glanced  his  eye  hurriedly  along  one  of  the  open  letters  that  lay 
around.  It  was  in  the  well  remembered  hand-writing  of  his  mother,  and  com- 
menced, "  Dear,  dearest  Reginald.''^  After  this  followed  expressions  of  en- 
dearment no  woman  might  address  except  to  an  affianced  lover,  or  the  husband 
of  her  choice  ;  and  his  heart  sickened  wliile  he  read.  Scarcely,  however,  had 
he  scanned  half  a  dozen  lines,  when  it  occured  to  him  he  was  violating  some 
secret  of  his  parents ;  and  discontinuing  the  perusal  with  an  eiFort,  he  prepared 
to  quit  himself  of  his  mission. 

On  raising  his  eyes  from  the  paper  he  was  startled  by  the  appearance  of  his 
father,  who,  with  a  stern  brow  and  a  quivering  lip,  stood  a  few  paces  from  the 
table,  apparently  too  much  overcome  by  his  indignation  to  be  able  to  utter  a 
sentence.  Charles  de  Haldimar  felt  all  the  awkwardness  of  his  position. 
Some  explanation  of  his  conduct,  however,  was  necessary;  and  he  stammered 
forth  the  fact  of  the  portrait  having  riveted  his  attention,  from  its  striking  re- 
semblance to  that  in  his  sister's  possession. 

"  And  to  what  do  these  letters  bear  resemblance  ?"  demanded  the  governor, 
in  a  voice  that  trembled  in  its  attempt  to  be  calm,  while  he  fixed  his  penetrat- 
ing eye  on  that  of  his  son.  '•  They^  it  appears,  "were  equally  objects  of  attrac- 
tion with  you." 

"  The  letters  ware  in  the  hand- writing  of  my  mother ;  and  I  was  irresistibly 
led  to  glance  at  one  of  them,"  replied  the  youth,  with  the  humility  of  conscious 
wrong.  "  The  action  was  involuntary,  and  no  sooner  committed  than  repented 
of.  I  am  here,  my  ilither,  on  a  mission  of  importance,  which  must  account  for 
'my  presence." 

"  A  mission  of  importance !"  repeated  the  governor,  with  more  of  sorrow 
than  of  anger  in  the  tone  in  which  he  now  spoke.  "  On  what  mission  are  you 
here,  if  it  be  not  to  intrude  unwarrantably  on  a  parent's  privacy?" 

The  young  officer's  cheek  flushed  high,  as  he  proudly  answered : — "  I  was 
sent  by  Captain  Blessington,  sir,  to  take  your  orders  in  regard  to  an  Indian 
who  is  now  without  the  fort  under  somewhat  extraordinary  circumstances, 
yet  evidently  without  intention  of  hostility.  It  is  supposed  he  bears  some  mes- 
sage from  my  brother." 

The  tone  of  candor  and  otfended  pride  in  which  this  formal  announcement 
of  duty  was  made  seemed  to  banish  all  suspicion  from  the  mind  of  the  govcnor ; 
•and  he  remarked,  in  a  voice  that  had  more  of  the  kindness  that  had  latterly 
■distinguished  his  address  to  his  son,  "Was  this,  then,  Charles',  the  o;?/;/ motive 
for  your  abrupt  intrusion  at  this  hour  1  Are  you  sure  no  inducement  of  pri- 
vate curiosity  was  mixed  up  with  the  discharge  of  your  duty,  that  you  entered 
thus  unannounced  1  You  must,  admit,  at  least,  I  found  you  employed  in  a 
manner  different  from  what  the  urgency  of  your  mission  would  seem  to  justify," 

There  was  lurking  irony  in  this  speech ;  yet  the  softened  accents  of  his 
father,  in  some  measure,  disarmed  the  youth  of  the  bitterness  he  would  have 
flung  into  his  observation, — "  That  no  man  on  earth,  his  parent  excepted, 
should  have  dared  to  insinuate  such  a  doubt  with  impunity." 

For  a  moment  Colonel  de  Haldimar  seemed  to  regard  his  son  with  a  sur- 
prised but  satisfied  air,  as  if  he  had  not  expected  so  much  spu'it,  in  one  whom 
he  had  been  accustomed  to  undervalue. 

"  I  believe  you,  Charles,"  he  at  length  observed ;  ''  forgive  the  justifiable 
doubt,  and  think  no  more  of  the  subject.  Yet,  one  word,"  as  the  j'outh  was 
■preparing  to  depart;  '"you  have  read  that  letter"  (and  he  pointed  to  that 
which  had  principally  arrested  the  attention  of  the  officer:)  what  impression 
has  it  given  you  of  your  mother  ?  Answer  me  sincerely.  My  name,"  and  his 
faint  smile  wore  something  of  the  character  of  triumph,  "is  not  Reginald,  ji^ou 
know." 

The  pallid  cheek  of  the  young  man  flushed  at  this  question.  His  own  un- 
disguised impression  was,  that  liis  mother  had  cherished  a  guilty  love  for  ano- 
ther than  her  husband.  He  felt  the  almost  impiety  of  such  a  beliei',  but  ho 
-could  not  resist  the  conviction  that  farced  itself  on  his  mind  ;  the  k'ltur  in  her 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE     PROPHECY.  165 

handwriting  spoke  for  itself;  and  thoug;h  the  idea  was  full  of  wrctrhedness, 
he  was  unable  to  conquer  it.  Whatever  liis  own  inference  might  be,  however, 
he  could  not  endure  the  tliought  of  imparting  it  to  his  father:  he  therefore 
answered  evasively. 

"  Doubtless  my  mother  had  some  dear  relative  of  the  name,  and  to  him  was 
this  letter  addressed ;  perhaps  a  brother,  or  an  uncle.  But  I  never  knew," 
he  pursued,  with  a  look  of  appeal  to  his  father,  "  that  a  second  portrait  of  my 
mother  existed.     This  is  the  verj^  counterpart  of  Clara's." 

•■  It  may  be  the  same."  remarked  the  governor,  but  in  a  tone  of  indecision, 
that  denied  his  faith  in  what  he  uttered. 

*•  Impossible,  my  father.  I  accompanied  Clara,  if  you  recollect,  as  far  as 
Lake  Sinclair ;  and  when  I  quitted  the  deck  of  the  schooner  to  return,  I  par- 
ticularly remarked  my  sister  wore  her  mother's  portrait,  as  usual,  round  her 
neck." 

Well,  no  matter  about  the  portrait,"  hurriedly  rejoined  the  governor;  '"yet, 
whatever  your  impression,  Charles,"  and  he  spoke  with  a  warmth  'that  was 
far  from  habitual  to  him.  •"  dare  not  to  sully  the  memory  of  your  mother  by 
a  doubt  of  her  purity.  An  accident  has  given  this  letter  to  j'our  inspection, 
but  breathe  not  its  contents  to  a  human  creature  ;  above  all,  respect  the  being 
who  gave  you  birth.  Go.  tell  Captain  Blessington  to  detain  the  Indian ;  I 
will  join  you  immediatcl}'." 

Strongl}-,  yet  confusedly,  impressed  with  the  singularity  of  the  scene  alto- 
gether, and  more  particularly  with  his  father's  strange  admonition,  the  young 
officer  quitted  the  room,  and"  hastened  te  rejoin  his  companions.  On  reaching 
the  rampart  he  found  that  the  Indian,  during  his  long  absence,  had  depart- 
ed ;  yet  not  without  depositing,  on  the  outer  edg(>  of  the  ditch,  the  substance 
to  which  he  had  previously  directed  their  attention.  At  the  naoment  of  De 
Haldimar's  approach,  the  officers  were  bounding  over  the  rampart,  and,  Avith 
straining  eyes,  endeavoring  to  make  out  what  it  was,  but  in  vain  ;  something 
was  just  perceptible  in  the  withered  turf,  but  what  that  S'lniething  was  no  one 
could  succeed  in  discovering. 

••  Whatever  this  be,  we  must  possess  ourselves  of  it,"  said  Captain  Bles- 
sington ;  '•  it  is  evident,  from  the  energetic  manner  of  him  who  left  it,  it  is  of 
importance.  I  think  t  know  who  is  the  best  swimmer  and  chmber  of  our 
party." 

Several  voices  imanimously  pronounced  the  name  of  '■  Johnstone." 
'•  Anything  for  a  dash  of  enterprise,"  said  that  officer,  w^hosc  slight  wound 
had  been  perfectly  healed.     '•  But  what  do  you  propose  that  the  swimmer  and 
climber  should  do,  Blessington?" 

■•  Secure  yon  parcel,  without  lowering  the  drawbridge." 
•'  "What !  and  be  scalped  in  the  act?     Who  knows  if  it  be  not  a  trick  after 
all,  and  that  the  rascal  who  placed  it  there  is  not  lying  within  a  few  feet, 
readv  to  pounce  upon  me  the  instance  I  reach  the  bank." 

"  Never  mind."  said  Erskine,  laughingly,  "  we  will  revenge  your  death,  my 
boy." 

"  Besides,  consider  the  nunquam  nan  ■paratus,  Johnstone,"  slily  remarked 
Lieutenant  Leslie. 

'"  AVhat,  again,  Leslie  ?"  energetically  responded  the  young  Scot.sman.  "Yet 
think  not  I  hesitate,  for  I  did  but  jest :  make  fast  a  rope  round  my  loins,  and 
I  think  I  will  answer  for  the  result." 

Colonel  de  Haldiraar  now  made  his  appearance.  Having  heard  a  brief 
statement  of  the  facts,  and  approving  of  the  suggestion  of  Captain  Blessing- 
ton,  a  rope  was  procured,  and  made  fast  under  the  shoulders  of  the  young 
officer,  who  had  previously  stripped  himself  of  his  uniform  and  shoes.  He 
then  suffered  himself  to  drop  gently  over  the  edge  of  the  rampart,  his  com- 
panions gradually  lowering  the  rope,  until  a  deep  and  gasping  aspiration,  sn«h 
as  is  usually  wrung  from  one  coming  suddenly  in  contact  with  cold  water, 
announced  he  had  gained  the  surface  of  the  ditch.     The  rope  was  then  sloxik- 


1643  v/acousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

'■®ied,  to  give  hiin  the  unrestrained  command  of  his  limbs;  and  in  the  next  in- 
stant he  was  seen  clambering  up  the  opposite  elevation. 

Although  the  officers,  indulging  in  a  forced  levity,  in  a  great  degree  meant 
to  encourage  their  companion,  had  treated  his  enterprise  with  indifference, 
t&ey  were  far  from  being  mthout  serious  anxiety  for  the  result.  They  had 
laughed  at  the  idea,  suggested  by  him,  of  being  scalped ;  whereas,  in  truth, 
they  entertained  the  apprehension  far  more  powerfully  than  he  did  himself. 
The  artifices  resorted  to  by  the  savages,  to  secure  an  isolated  victim,  were  so 
many  and  so  various,  that  suspicion  could  not  but  attach  to  the  mysterious 
occurrence  they  had  just  witnessed.  Willing  even  as  they  were  to  believe 
their  present  visiter,  whoever  he  was,  came  not  in  a  spirit  of  enmity,  they  could 
aot  altogether  divest  themselves  of  a  fear  that  it  was  only  a  subtle  artifice  to 
-decoy  one  of  them  within  the  reach  of  their  traitorous  weapons.  They, 
therefoi-e,  watched  the  movements  of  their  companion  with  quickening  pulses ; 
aad  it  was  ^vith  a  lively  satisfaction  they  saw  him,  at  length,  after  a  momen- 
tary search,  descend  once  more  into  the  ditcli,  and,  with  a  single  powerful  im- 
pulsion of  his  limbs,  urge  himself  back  to  the  foot  of  the  rampart.  Neither 
feet  nor  hands  were  of  much  sei-vice,  in  enabling  him  to  scale  the  smooth  and 
sliinting  logs  that  composed  the  exterior  surface  of  the  works ;  but  a  slight 
jerk  of  the  well-secured  rope,  serving  as  a  signal  to  his  friends,  he  was  soon 
dragged  once  more  to  the  summit  of  the  rampart,  without  other  injury  than 
a  couple  of  slight  bruises. 

"  Well,  wliat  success  ?"  eagerly  asked  Leslie  and  Captain  Erskine,  in  the 
same  breath,  as  the  dripping  Johnstone  buried  himself  in  the  folds  of  a  capa- 
cious cloak  procured  during  his  absence.  ' 

"  You  shall  hear,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but  first,  gentlemen,  allow  me,  if  you 
please,  to  enjoy,  with  yourselves,  the  luxury  of  dry  clothes.  I  have  no  par- 
ticular ambition  to  contract  an  American  ague  fit  just  now  ;  yet,  unless  you 
take  pity  on  me,  and  resei've  my  examination  for  a  future  moment,  there  is 
ev«ry  probabilitj'-  I  shall  not  have  a  tootli  left  ):)y  to-morrow  morning." 

No  one  could  deny  the  justice  of  the  remark,  for  the  teeth  of  the  young 
jaaan  were  chattering  as  he  spoke.  It  was  not,  therefore,  until  after  he  had 
"Cbajiged  his  dress,  and  swallowed  a  couple  of  glasses  of  Captain  Erskine's 
never  failing  spirit,  that  they  all  repaired  once  more  to  the  mess-room,  when 
Johnstone  anticipated  all  questions,  by  the  production  of  the  mysterious 
packet. 

After  removing  several  wrappers  of  bark,  each  of  which  was  secured  by  a 
tbong  of  deer-skin.  Colonel  de  Haldimar,  to  whom  the  successful  officer  had 
hiaaded  liis  prize,  at  length  came  to  a  small  oval  case  of  red  morocco,  precise- 
ly similar,  in  size  and  form,  to  what  which  had  so  lately  attracted  the  notice 
-t>f  his  son.  For  a  moment  he  hesitated,  and  his  cheek  was  observed  to  turn 
fB'Je,  and  his  hand  to  tremble ;  but  quickly  subduing  his  hidecision,  he  hur- 
riedly unfastened  the  clasp,  and  disclosed  to  the  astonished  view  of  the  officers 
th«  portrait  of  a  young  and  lovely  woman,  habited  in  the  Highland  garb. 

Exclamations  of  various  kinds  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  group  of  ofBcers. 
Several  knew  it  to  be  the  portrait  of  Mrs.  de  Haldimar ;  others  recognized  it 
from  the  striking  likeness  it  bore  to  Clara  and  to  Charles  :  all  knew  it  had 
never  been  absent  from  the  possession  of  the  former  since  her  mother's  death  ; 
aad  feeling  satisfied  as  they  did  that  its  extraordinary  appearance  among 
them,  at  the  present  moment,  was  an  announcement  of  some  dreadful  disaster, 
iifeeir  countenances  wore  an  impress  of  dismay  little  mferior  to  that  of  the 
"wretched  Charles,  who,  agonised  beyond  all  attempt  at  description,  had  thrown 
Isknself  into  a  seat  in  the  rear  of  the  group,  and  sat  like  one  bewildered,  with 
liis  head  buried  in  his  hands. 

'■■  Gentlemen,"  at  length  observed  Colonel  de  Haldimar,  in  a  voice  that  prov- 
.lad  how  vainly  his  natural  emotion  was  sought  to  be  subdued  by  his  pride, 
'''•  this,  I  fear  me.  is  an  unwelcome  token.     It  comes  to  announce  to  a  father 


wacousta;  or,  the  puophecy.      107 

the  murder  of  his  child  ;  to  us  all.  the  destruction  of  our  last  rcmauiing  friends 
and  comrades." 

'■  (iod  forbid!"  solemnly  aspirated  ("aptain  ]i]e.^sinf>;ton.  After  a  pause  of 
a  moment  oi-  t^vo  he  pursued:  ''1  know  not  why,  sir;  but  my  imprcs.sion  is, 
the  appearance  of  this  portrait,  which  we  all  recognise  for  that  worn  by  Miss 
dc  Haldimar,  bears  another  hiterpretation." 

Colonel  de  Haldimar  shook  his  head.  "  1  have  but  too  nmch  reason  to  be- 
lieve," he  observed,  smiling  iu  mournful  bitterness,  "it  has  been  conveyed  to 
lis  not  in  mercy  but  in  revenge." 

No  one  ventured  to  question  why  ;  for  notwithstanding  all  were  aware  that, 
in  the  mysterious  ravishcr  of  the  wife  of  Halloway,  Colonel  de  Haldimar  had 
a  fierce  and  inexorable  private  enemy,  no  allusion  had  ever  been  made  by  that 
officer  himself  to  the  suljject. 

''  Will  you  permit  me  to  examine  the  portrait  and  envelopes,  colonel  ?"  re- 
sumed Captain  Blessington:  ''1  feel  almost  confident,  although  I  confess  I 
have  no  other  motive  for  it  than  what  springs  from  a  recollection  of  the  man- 
ner of  the  Indian,  that  the  result  will  bear  me  out  in  my  belief  tlic  bearer 
came  not  in  hostility  but  in  fi-iendship." 

"  By  my  faith,  1  quite  agi'ee  with  Blessington,"  said  Captain  Erskino ;  "for, 
in  addition  to  the  manner  of  the  Indian,  there  is  another  evidence  in  favor  of 
his  position.  Was  it  merely  intended  in  the  light  in  which  you  consider  it, 
colonel,  the  case  or  the  miniature  itself  might  have  been  returned,  liut  certain- 
ly not  the  metal  in  which  it  is  set.  The  savages  are  fully  aware  of  the  value 
of  gold,  and  would  not  so  easily  let  it  slip  through  their  fingeis." 

Meanwhile,  Captain  Blessington  had  turned  and  examined  the  miniature  in 
fifty  different  ways,  but  without  succeeding  in  discovering  any  thing  that 
could  confirm  him  in  his  original  impression.  Vexed  and  disappointed,  he  at 
length  flung  it  from  him  on  the  table,  and  sinking  into  a  seat  al  tiie  side  of 
the  unfortunate  Charles,  pressed  the  hand  of  the  youtli  in  signiticant  silence. 

Finding  his  worst  fears  now  confirmed,  Colonel  de  Haldimar.  for  the  first 
time,  cast  a  glance  towards  his  son,  v/hose  drooping  head,  and  sorrowing 
attitude,  spoke  vohnnes  to  bis  heart.  For  a  luotu/iit  his  own  dieek  blanched, 
and  his  eye  was  .--vui!  ti)  gli.sten  with  the  !ir,-,L  >.<■..)■  eve;-  wi'inesscd  there  by 
tho-se  around  hiui.  Sul'thiing  his  emotioii.  !'.■:■,■.: -.vr.  ho  drew  iip  !iis  person 
to  its  lordly  height,  as  if  that  act  reminded  iiim  the  commander  was  not  to  be 
lost  in  the  father,  and  quitting  the  room  with  a  heavj-  brow  and  step,  recom- 
mended to  his  officers  the  re})oso  of  which  they  ;i,ppeared  to  stand  so  much  in 
need.  But  not  one  was  there  who  felt  iiiflined  iu  court  the  solitude  of  his 
pillow.  No  sooner  were  the  foot.-tvps  of  Uie  governor  heard  dying  away  in 
the  distance,  when  fresh  lights  were  oi-dered,  and  :-everal  logs  of  wood  heaped 
on  the  slackening  fire.  Around  cliis  t'le  diiiceis  now  grouped,  and  throwing 
themselves  back  in  their  chairs,  assumed  t'ne  a/itiiiu]es  of  men  seeking  to  in- 
dulge rather  in  private  rellection  than  in  ]>erso;ial  e'>iiverse. 

The  grief  of  the  wretched  Charles  de  lialdiiii.ir.  hitherto  restrained  by  the 
presence  of  his  father,  and  encouragnil  hy  the  tD'ahin-  evidences  of  interest 
Aflrordi"'d.  him  by  the  ever  considerate  Blessington,  now  Ijurst  forth  audibly. 
No  attempt  was  made  by  the  latter  officer  to  cWrk  the  emot'on  of  his  young 
friend.  Knowing  his  passionate  fondness  for  his  sister,  he  was  not  v.-ithout 
fear  that  the  sudden  shock  produced  by  the  appearance  of  her  miniature 
might  destroy  his  rea.son,  even  if  it  affected  not  his  life ;  and  as  the  moment 
was  now  come  v.'hen  tears  might  be  shed  without  exciting  invidious  remark  in 
the  only  individual  v.-ho  was  likely  to  make  it.  he  sought  to  promote  them  ixa 
much  as  possible.  Too  much  occupied  in  their  own  mournful  reflections  to 
bestow  more  than  a  passing  notice  on  the  weakness  of  their  friend,  the  group 
round  the  fire-place  scarcely  seemed  to  have  regarded  his  emotion. 

This  violent  paroxysm  past,  De  Haldimar  breathed  more  freely  ;  and,  after 
listening  to  several  earnest  observations  of  Captain  Blessington,  who  still 
held  out  the  possibihty  of  something  favorable  turning  up,  on  a  re-exaraiuation 


168  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

of  the  portrait  by  daylight,  he  was  so  far  composed  as  to  be  able  to  attend  to 
the  summons  of  the  sergeant  of  the  guard,  who  came  to  say  the  relief  were 
ready,  and  \vaiting  to  be  inspected  before  they  were  finally  marched  off. 
Clasping  the  extended  hand  of  his  captain  between  his  own,  with  a  pressure 
indicative  of  his  deep  gratitude,  De  Haldimar  now  proceeded  to  the  discharge 
of  his  duty,  and  having  caught  up  tlie  portrait,  which  still  lay  on  the  table, 
and  thrust  it  into  the  breast  of  his  uniform,  he  repaired  hurriedly  to  rejoin 
his  guard,  from  which  circumstances  alone  had  induced  his  unusually  long 
absence. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

The  remainder  of  that  night  was  passed  by  the  unhappy  De  Haldimar  in  a 
state  of  indescribable  wretchedness.  After  inspecting  the  relief,  he  had  thrown 
himself  on  his  rude  guai'd-bed ;  and,  drawing  his  cloak  over  his  eyes,  gave 
full  rein  to  the  wanderings  of  his  excited  imagination. 

Miserable  as  he  felt  his  position  to  be,  it  was  not  without  satisfaction  he 
again  heard  the  voice  of  his  sergeant  summoning  him  to  the  inspection  of 
another  relief  This  duty  performed,  and  anxious  to  avoid  the  paining  pre- 
sence of  his  servant,  he  determined,  instead  of  returning  to  his  guard-room,  to 
consume  the  hour  that  remained  before  day  in  pacing  the  ramparts.  Leaving 
word  with  his  subordinate,  that  in  the  event  of  his  being  required,  he  might 
be  found  without  difficulty,  he  ascended  to  that  quarter  of  the  works  where 
the  Indian  had  been  first  seen  who  had  so  mysteriously  conveyed  the  sad  token 
he  still  retained  in  his  breast.  It  was  on  the  same  side  with  that  particular 
point  whence  we  have  already  stated  a  full  view  of  the  bridge  with  its  sur- 
rounding scenery,  together  with  the  waters  of  the  Detroit,  where  they  were 
intersected  by  Hog  Island,  were  distinctly  commanded.  At  either  of  those 
points  was  stationed  a  sentinel,  whose  duty  it  was  to  extend  his  beat  between 
the  boxes  used  now  rather  as  lines  of  demarcation  than  as  places  of  temporary 
shelter,  xmtil  each  gained  that  of  his  next  comrade,  when  they  again  returned 
to  their  own,  crossing  each  other  about  half  way :  a  system  of  precaution  pur- 
sued by  the  whole  of  the  sentinels  in  the  circuit  of  the  rampart. 

The  ostensible  motive  of  the  officer  in  ascending  the  works,  was  to  visit  his 
several  posts  ;  but  no  sooner  had  he  found  himself  between  the  points  alluded 
to,  which  happened  to  be  the  first  in  his  course,  than  he  seemed  to  be  riveted 
there  by  a  species  of  fascination. 

Reminded,  for  the  first  time,  as  he  was  pursuing  his  measured  but  aimless 
walk,  by  the  fatal  portrait  which  he  more  than  once  pressed  with  feverish 
energy  to  his  lips,  of  the  singular  discovery  he  had  made  that  night  in  the 
apartments  of  his  father,  he  was  naturally  led,  by  a  chain  of  consecutive  thought, 
into  a  review  of  the  extraordinary  scene.  The  fact  of  the  existence  of  a  second 
likeness  of  his  mother  was  one  that  did  not  now  fail  to  re-awaken  all  the  un- 
qualified surprise  he  had  experienced  at  the  first  discovery.  So  far  from  hav- 
ing ever  heard  his  father  make  the  slightest  allusion  to  this  memorial  of  his 
departed  mother,  he  porfectly  recollected  his  repeatedly  recommending  to  Clara 
the  safe  custody  of  a  treasure,  which,  if  lost,  could  never  be  replaced.  What 
could  be  the  motive  for  this  mystery  ? — and  Avhy  had  he  sought  to  impress 
him  with  the  belief  it  was  the  identical  portrait  worn  by  his  sister  which  had 
so. unintentionally  been  exposed  to  his  view?  Why,  too,  had  he  evinced  so 
much  anxiety  to  remove  from  his  mind  all  unfavorable  impressions  in  regard 
to  his  mother  ?  Why  have  been  so  energetic  in  his  caution  not  to  suffer  a 
taint  of  impiu-it}^  to  attach  to  her  memory  ?  Why  should  he  have  supposed 
the  possil)ility  of  such  impression,  unless  there  had  been  sufficient  cause  for 
it  ?  In  what,  moreover,  originated  his  triumphant  expression  of  feature,  when. 


w  A  <;  o  u  s  T  A  ;    or,    the    prophecy.  169 

on  that  occasion,  he  reminded  him  that  his  name  was  not  Rcginakl  ?  Whs, 
then,  was  this  lieginald  ?  Then  came  the  recollection  of  what  had  been  re- 
peated to  him  of  the  parting  scene  between  Halloway  and  his  wife.  In  ad- 
dressing her  ill-fated  liusband,  she  had  named  him  Reginald.  Could  it  be  pos- 
sible this  \\;as  the  same  being  alluded  to  by  his  father  ?  But  no ;  his  youth 
forbade  the  supposition,  being  but  two  years  older  than  his  brother  Frederick  ; 
yet  might  he  not,  in  some  way  or  other,  be  connected  with  the  Keginald  of 
the  letter  ?  Why,  too,  had  his  father  shown  such  unrelenting  severity  which 
had  induced  more  than  one  remark  from  his  officers,  that  it  looked  as  if  he  en- 
tertained some  personal  feeling  of  enmity  towards  a  man  who  had  done  so 
much  for  his  iamily,  and  stood  so  high  in  the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Then  came  another  thought.  At  the  moment  of  his  execution,  Halloway 
had  deposited  a  packet  in  the  hands  of  Captain  Blessington ; — could  these  let- 
ters— could  that  portrait  be  the  same  ?  Certain  it  was,  by  whatever  means 
obtained,  his  father  could  not  have  had  them  long  in  his  possession ;  for  it  was 
improbable  letters  of  so  old  a  date  should  have  occupied  his  attention  now^ 
when  many  years  had  rolled  over  the  memory  of  his  mother.  And  then, 
again,  what  was  the  meaning  of  the  language  used  by  the  implacable  enemy 
of  his  father,  that  uncouth  and  ferocious  warrior  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis,  not  only 
on  the  occasion  of  the  execution  of  Halloway,  but  afterwards  to  his  brother, 
during  his  short  captivity ;  and  subsequently,  when  disguised  as  a  black,  he 
penetrated,  with  the  band  of  Ponteac,  into  the  fort,  and  aimed  his  murderous 
weapon  at  liis  father's  head.  What  had  made  him  the  enemy  of  his  family  ? 
and  where  and  how  had  originated  his  father's  connection  with  so  extraordi- 
nary and  savage  a  being?  Could  he,  in  any  way,  be  implicated  with  his  mother? 
But  no  ;  there  was  something  revolting,  monstrous  in  the  thought :  besides, 
had  not  his  father  stood  forward  the  champion  of  her  innocence  ? — had  he  not 
declared,  with  an  energy  carrying  conviction  with  every  word,  that  she  was- 
untainted  by  guilt  ?  And  would  he  have  done  this,  had  he  had  reason  to  be- 
lieve in  the  existence  of  a  criminal  love  for  liim  who  evidently  was  his  mortal 
foe  ■?     Impossible. 

Such  were  the  questions  and  solutions  that  crowded  on  and  distracted  the 
mind  of  the  unhappy  De  Haldimar,  who  after  all,  could  arrive  at  no  satisfac- 
tory conclusion.  It  was  evident  there  was  a  secret, — yet,  whatever  its  nature,, 
it  was  one  likely  to  go  down  with  his  father  to  tlie  grave ;  for,  however  hu- 
miliating the  reflection  to  a  haughty  parent,  compelled  to  vindicate  the  honor 
of  a  mother  to  her  son,  and  in  direct  opposition  to  evidence  that  scarcely  bore 
a  shadow  of  misinterpretation,  it  was  clear  he  had  motives  for  consigning  the 
circumstance  to  oblivion,  which  far  outweighed  any  necessity  he  felt  of  adduc- 
ing other  proofs  of  her  innocence  than  those  which  rested  on  his  own  simple 
yet  impressive  assertion. 

In  the  midst  of  these  bewildering  doubts,  De  Haldimar  heard  some  one  ap- 
proaching in  his  rear,  whose  footsteps  he  distinguished  from  the  heavy  pace  of 
the  sentinels.  He  turned,  stopped,  and  was  presently  joined  by  Captain 
Blessington. 

"  Why,  dearest  Charles,"  almost  querulously  asked  the  kind  officer,  as  he 
passed  his  arm  through  that  of  his  subaltern, — ''  why  will  you  jiersist  in  feed- 
ing this  love  of  solitude  ?  What  possible  result  can  it  pr(*3uce,  but  an  utter 
prostration  of  every  moral  and  physical  energy  ?  Come,  come,  summon  a  little 
fortitude ;  all  may  not  yet  be  so  hopeless  as  you  apprehend.  For  my  own 
part,  I  feel  convinced  the  day  will  dawn  upon  some  satisfactory  solution  of  the 
mystery  of  that  packet." 

■•  Blessington,  my  dear  Blessington  !" — and  De  Haldimar  spoke  with  mourn- 
ful energ}', — "  you  have  known  me  from  my  boyhood,  and,  I  believe,  have 
ever  loved  me ;  seek  not,  therefore,  to  draw  me  from  the  present  temper  of 
my  mind  ;  deprive  me  not  of  an  indulgence  which,  melancholy  as  it  is,  now 
constitutes  the  sole  satisfaction  I  take  m  existence." 


170  W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE      PROPHECY. 

"  By  heaven  !  diaries,  I  will  not  listen  to  such  language,  "i'ou  absolutely 
put  my  patience  to  the  rack." 

"  Na}-,  then,  I  will  urge  no  more,"  pursued  the  young  officer.  '•  To  revert, 
therefore,  to  a  different  subject,  answer  me  one  question  with  sincerity.  What 
were  the  contents  of  the  packet  you  received  from  poor  Halloway  previous  to 
his  .execution  ?  and  in  whose  possession  ai-e  they  now  ?" 

Pleased  to  find  the 'attention  of  his  3"0ung  friend  diverted  for  the  moment 
from  his  sister.  Captain  Blessington  quickly  rejoined,  he  believed  the  packet 
contained  letters  which  Halloway  had  stated  to  him  were  of  a  nature  to 
throw  some  light  on  his  family  connections.  He  had,  however,  transferred  it 
with  the  seal  unbroken,  as  desired  by  the  unhappy  man,  to  Colonel  de  Hal- 
mar." 

An  exclamation  of  surprise  burst  involuntarily  from  the  lips  of  the  youth. 
"  Has  my  father  ever  made  any  allusion  to  that  packet  since  ?"  he  asked. 

"Never,"  returned  Captain  Blessington;  '•  and,  I  confess,  his  faihng  to  do 
so  has  often  excited  my  astonishment.     But  why  do  you  ask  ?" 

De  Haldimar  energetically  pressed  the  arm  of  his  captain,  v/hile  a  heavy 
sigh  burst  from  his  oppressed  heart.  "This  very  night,  Blessington,  on  en- 
tering my  father's  apartment  to  apprise  him  of  what  was  going  on  here,  I 
saw, — I  can  scarcely  tell  you  what,  but  certainly  enough  to  convince  me,  from 
what  }'ou  have  now  stated,  Halloway  was,  in  .some  degree  or  other,  connected 
with  our  family.  Tell  me,"  he  anxiously  pursued,  "  was  there  a  portrait  en- 
closed with  the  letters  ?" 

"  I  cannot  state  with  confidence,  Charles,"  replied  his  friend ;  "  but  if  I 
might  judge  from  the  peculiar  form  and  weight  of  the  packet,  I  should  be  in- 
clined to  say  not.     Have  you  seen  the  letters,  then  ?" 

"  I  have  seen  certam  letters  which  I  have  reason  to  believe  are  the  same," 
returned  De  Haldimar.  '•  They  were  addressed  to  '  Reginald  ;'  and  Hallo- 
way, I  think  you  have  told  me,  was  so  called  by  his  unhappy  wife." 

"  There  can  be  little  doubt  they  are  the  same,"  said  Captain  Blessington  ; 
"  but  what  were  their  contents,  and  by  whom  written,  that  you  deem  they 
prove  a  connection  between  the  unhappy  soldier  and  your  family  ?" 

De  Haldimar  felt  the  blood  rise  into  his  cheek  at  that  natural  but  unex- 
pected demand.  "I  am  sure,  Blessington,"  he  replied,  after  a  pause,  ''you 
will  not  think  me  capable  of  unworthy  mystery  towards  yourself;  but  the 
contents  of  these  letters  are  sacred,  inasmuch  as  they  relate  only  to  cij-cum- 
stances  connected  with  my  father's  family." 

They  soon  both  ])repared  to  quit  the  rampart.  As  they  passed  the  sentinel 
stationed  at  that  point  where  the  Indian  had  been  first  seen,  their  attention 
was  directed  by  him  to  a  tire  that  now  suddenly  rose,  apparently  at  a  great 
distimce,  and  rapidly  increasing  in  volume.  The  singularity  of  this  occurrence 
riveted  the  officers  for  a  moment  in  silent  observation  ;  until  Captain  Bless- 
ington at  length  ventured  a  remark,  tliat,  judging  from  the  direction  and  the 
deceptive  nature  of  tlie  element  at  night,  he  should  incline  to  tiiink  it  was  the 
hut  of  the  Cauadian  burning. 

"  Which  is  another  additional  proof,  were  any  such  wanting,  that  every 
thing  is  lost,"  mom-nfully  urged  the  ever  apprehensive  De  Haldimar.^  "  Fran- 
fois  has  been  detected  in  rendering  aid  to  our  friends ;  and  the  Indians,  in  all 
probability,  after  having  immolated  their  victim,  are  sacrificing  his  property 
to  their  rage." 

During  this  exchange  of  opinion,  the  officers  had  again  moved  to  the  oppo- 
site point  of  the  limited  walk  of  the  younger.  Scarcely  had  they  reached  it, 
and  before  Captain  Blessington  could  find  time  to  reply  to  the  fears  of  liis 
friend,  when  a  loud  and  distant  booming  like  that  of  a  cannon  was  heard  in 
the  direction  of  the  fire.  The  alarm  was  given  hastily  by  the  sentinels,  and 
sounds  of  preparation  and  arming  were  audible  in  the  course  of  a  minute  or 
two  everywhere  throughout  the  fort.  Startled  by  the  report,  which  tliey  had 
half  inchned  to  imagine  produced  by  the  discharge  of  one  of  then-  own  gims, 


wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy.  171 

«■ 

the  half-sluinlwring  officers  had  quitted  the  cliairs  in  which  thej-  had  passed 
the  nisrht  in  the  mo.-s-room,  and  were  soon  at  the  side  of  their  more  watchful 
companions,  flien  anxionslv  listening  for  a  repetition  of  the  sound. 

The  day  was  Ju.st  beginning  to  dawn,  and  as  the  atmosphere  clearest  gradu- 
ally away,  it  was  perceived  the  fire  rose  not  from  the  hut  of  the  Canadian, 
but  at  a  point  considerably-  beyond  it.  Unusual  as  it  was  to  see  a  large  fire 
of  this  description,  its  appearance  became  an  object  of  minor  consideration, 
since  it  might  be  attributed  to  some  caprice  or  desire  on  the  part  of  the  In- 
dians to  excite  apprehension  in  their  enemies.  But  how  was  the  report  which 
had  reached  their  ears  to  be  accounted  for  ?  It  evidently  could  only  have 
been  produced  by  the  discharge  of  a  cannon ;  and  if  so.  where  could  the 
Indians  have  procured  it  ?  No  such  arm  had  recently  been  in  their  pos.ses- 
sion ;  and  if  it  were,  they  were  totally  unacquainted  witn  the  manner  of  serv- 
ing it. 

As  the  day  became  more  developed,  the  mystery  was  resolved.  Every 
telescope  in  tlie  fort  had  been  called  into  requisition  ;  and  as  they  were  now 
levelled  in  the  direction  of  the  lire,  .sweeping  the  line  of  horizon  around,  ex- 
clamations of  surprise  escaped  the  lips  of  several. 

"  It  is  an  unusual  hour  for  the  Indians'  war-dance,"  observed  Captain 
Blessington.  "  My  experience  furnishes  mo  M'ith  no  one  instance  in  which  it 
has  not  been  danced  previous  to  their  retiring  to  rest." 

"  Unless,"  said  Lieutenant  Eoyce,  *'  they  should  liave  been  thus  engaged  all 
night ;  in  wdiich  case  the  singularity  may  be  explained." 

"  Look,  look,"  eagerly  remarked  Lieutenant  Johnstone — "  see  how  they  are 
flying  to  their  canoes,  bounding  and  leaping  like  so  many  devils  broke  loose 
from  their  chains.     The  fire  is  nearly  deserted  already." 

"  The  schooner — the  schooner !"  shouted  Captain  Erskine.  By  heaven, 
our  own  gallant  schooner  !  see  how  beautifully  she  drives  past  the  island. 
It  was  her  gun  we  heard,  intended  as  a  signal  to  prepare  us  for  her  appear- 
ance." 

"  A  thrill  of  wild  and  indescribable  emotion  passed  through  every  heart. 
Every  eye  was  turned  upon  the  point-  to  which  attention  was  now  directed. 
The  graceful  ve.'^sel,  with  every  stitch  of  canvass  set,  was  shooting  rapidly 
past  the  low  bushes  skirting  the  sands  that  still  concealed  her  hull ;  and  in  a 
moment  or  two  she  loomed  largely  and  proudly  on  the  bosom  of  the  Detroit, 
the  surface  of  which  was  slightly  curled  with  a  north-western  breeze. 

••  Safe,  by  Jupiter !"  exclaimed  the  delighted  Erskine,  dropping  the  glass 
upon  the  rampart,  and  rubbmg  his  hands  together  with  every  manifestation 
ofjoy. 

■•  The  Indians  are  in  chase,"  said  Lieutenant  Boyce  ;  "  upwards  of  fifty  ca- 
noes are  following  the  schooner's  wake.  But  Danvers  will  soon  give  us  an 
account  of  their  Lilliputian  fleet." 

"  Let  the  troops  be  held  in  readiness  for  a  sortie,  Mr.  Lawson,"  said  the 
governor,  who  liad  joined  his  officers  just  as  the  schooner  cleared  the  island ; 
"  we  must  cover  their  landing,  or,  with  this  host  of  savages  in  pursuit,  they 
will  never  effect  it  alive." 

During  the  whole  of  this  brief  but  exciting  scene,  the  heart  of  Charles  de 
Haldimar  beat  audibly.  A  thousand  hopes  and  fears  rushed  confusedly  on  his 
mind,  and  he  was  as  one  bewildered  by,  and  scarcely  crediting,  what  he  saw. 
Could  Clara, — could  his  cousin — could  his  brother — could  his  friend  be  on 
board  ?  He  scarcely  dared  to  ask  himself  these  questions  ;  still  it  was  with  a 
fluttering  heart,  in  which  hope,  however,  predominated,  that  he  hastened  to 
execute  an  order  of  his  captain,  that  bore  immediate  reference  to  his  duty  as 
subaltern  of  the  guard. 


172  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy. 


CHAPTER  XXVI.  .     . 

Meanwhile  the  schooner  dashed  rapidly  along,  her  hull  occasionally  hid 
from  the  view  of  those  assembled  on  the  ramparts  by  some  intervening  orchard 
or  cluster  of  houses,  but  her  tall  spars  glittering  in  their  cover  of  white  can- 
vass, and  marking  the  direction  of  her  course.  At  length  she  came  to.  a  point 
in  the  river  that  offered  no  other  interruption  to  the  eye  than  what  arose 
from  the  presence  of  almost  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  village,  who,  urged  by 
curiosity  and  surprise,  were  to  be  seen  crowding  the  intervening  bank.  Here 
the  schooner  was  suddenly  put  about,  and  the  English  colors,  hitherto  con- 
cealed by  the  folds  of  the  canvass,  were  at  length  discovered  proudly  floating 
in  the  breeze. 

Immediately  over  the  gateway  of  the  fort  there  was  an  elevated  platform, 
approached  by  the  rampart  of  which  it  formed  a  part,  by  some  half  dozen 
rude  steps  on  either  side  ;  and  on  this  platform  was  placed  a  long  eighteen 
pounder,  that  commanded  the  whole  extent  of  road  leading  from  the  draw- 
bridge to  the  river.  Hither  the  officers  had  all  repaired,  while  the  schooner 
was  in  the  act  of  passing  the  town  ;  and  now  that,  sudd^ly  brouglit  up  in 
the  wmd's  eye,  she  rode  leisurely  in  the  offing,  every  movSnent  on  her  decks 
was  plainly  discernable  with  the  telescope. 

"  Where  can  Danvers  have  hid  all  his  crew  ?"  first  spoke  Captain  Erskine ; 
"  I  count  but  half  a  dozen  hands  altogether  on  deck,  and  these  arc  barely  suf- 
ficient to  work  her." 

"  Lying  concealed,  and  ready,  no  doubt,  to  give  the  canoes  a  warm  recep- 
tion," observed  Lieutenant  Johnstone;  "but  where  can  our  friends  be? 
Surely,  if  there,  they  would  show  themselves  to  us." 

There  was  in  truth  in  this  remark ;  and  each  felt  discouraged  and  disap- 
pointed that  they  did  not  appear. 

"  There  come  the  whooping  hell  fiends,"  said  Major  Blackwater.  '■  By 
heaven  !  the  very  water  is  darkened  with  the  shadows  of  their  canoes." 

Scarcely  had  he  spoken,  when  the  vessel  was  suddenly  surrounded  by  a 
multitude  of  savages,  whose  fierce  shouts  rent  the  air,  while  their  dripping 
paddles,  gleaming  like  sUvcr  in  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun,  were  alternately 
waved  aloft  in  triumph,  and  then  plunged  into  the  troubled  element,  which 
they  spurned  in  fury  from  their  blades. 

"  What  can  Danvers  be  about?  Why  does  he  not  either  open  his  fire,  or 
crowd  sail  and  away  from  them  ?"  exclaimed  several  voices. 

'•  The  detachment  is  in  readiness,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Lawson,  and  ascending  the 
platfofm,  and  addressing  Major  Blackwater. 

"  The  deck,  the  deck  !"  shouted  Erskine. 

Already  the  eyes  of  several  were  bent  in  the  direction  alluded  to  by  the 
last  speaker,  while  those  whose  attention  had  been  diverted  by  the  approach- 
ing canoes  glanced  rapidly  to  the  same  point.  To  the  surprise  and  conster- 
nation of  all,  the  tall  and  well-remembered  form  of  the  warrior  of  the  Fleur 
de  Lis  was  seen  towering  far  above  the  bulwarks  of  the  schooner ;  and  with 
an  expression  in  the  attitude  he  had  assumed,  which  no  one  could  mistake 
for  other  than  that  of  triumphant  defiance.  Presently  he  drew  from  the 
bosom  of  his  hunting  coat  a  dark  parcel,  and  springing  into  the  rigging  of  the 
mainmast,  ascended  with  incredible  activity  to  the  point  where  the  English 
ensign  was  faintly  floating  in  the  breeze.  This  he  tore  furiously  away,  and 
rending  it  into  many  pieces,  cast  the  fragments  into  the  silver  element  beneath 
him,  on  whose  bosom  they  were  seen  to  float  among  the  canoes  of  the  savages, 
many  of  whom  possessed  themselves,  with  eagerness,  of  the  gaudy  colored 
trophies.  The  dark  parcel  was  now  unfolded  by  the  active  warrior,  who, 
after  having  waved  it  several  times  round  his  head,  commenced  attaching  it  to 
the  lines  whence  the  English  ensign  had  so  recently  been  torn.     It  was  a  large 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      173 

black  flag,  the  purport  of  which  was  too  readily  comprehended  by  the  excit- 
ed officers. 

'•  Hang  the  rufEan !  can  we  not  manage  to  make  that  flag  serve  aa  his  own 
winding  sheet  ?"  exclaimed  Captan  Erskine.  "  Come,  Wentworth.  give  us  a 
second  edition  of  the  sortie  firing ;  I  know  no  man  who  understands  pointing 
a  gun  better  than  yourself,  and  this  eighteen  pounder  might  do  some  mis- 
chief." 

The  idea  was  instantly  caught  at  by  the  oflicer  of  artillery,  who  read  his 
consent  in  the  eye  of  Colonel  de  Haldimar.  His  companions  made  way  on 
either  side ;  and  several  gunners,  wlio  were  already  at  their  stations,  having 
advanced  to  work  the  piece  at  the  command  of  their  captain,  it  was  speedily 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  schooner. 

••  This  will  do,  1  think,"  said  Wentworth,  as,  glancing  his  experienced  eye 
carefully  along  the  gun,  he  found  it  pointed  immediately  on  the  gigantic  frame 
of  the  warrior.  '■  If  this  chain-shot  miss  him,  it  will  be  through  no  fault  of 
mine." 

Every  eye  was  now  riveted  on  the  main  mast  of  the  schooner,  where  the 
warrior  was  still  engaged  in  attaching  the  portentous  flag.  The  gunner,  who 
held  the  match,  obeyed  the  silent  signal  of  his  captain  ;  and  the  massive  iron 
was  heard  rushing  past  the  oflicers,  bound  on  its  murderous  mission.  A  mo- 
ment or  two  of  intense  anxiety  elapsed  ;  and  when  at  length  the  rolling  vol- 
umes of  smoke  gradually  floated  away,  to  the  dismay  and  disappointment  of 
all,  the  fierce  warrior  was  seen  standing  apparently  unharmed  on  the  same 
spot  in  the  rigging.  The  shot  had,  however,  been  well  aimed,  for  a  large  rent 
in  the  outstretched  canvass,  close  at  his  side,  and  about  mid-height  of  his 
person,  marked  the  direction  it  had  taken.  Again  he  tore  away,  and  trium- 
phantly waved  the  black  flag  around  his  head,  while  from  his  capacious  lungs 
there  burst  yells  of  defiance  and  scorn,  that  could  be  distinguished  for  his 
own  even  at  that  distance.  This  done,  he  again  secured  the  death  symbol  to 
its  place ;  and  gliding  to  the  deck  by  a  single  rope,  appeared  to  give  orders  to 
the  few  men  of  the  crew  who  were  to  be  seen ;  for  every  stitch  of  canvass 
was  again  made  to  fill,  and  the  vessel,  bounding  forward  before  the  breeze 
then  blowing  upon  her  quarter,  shot  rapidly  behind  the  town,  and  was  finally 
seen  to  cast  anchor  in  the  navigable  channel  that  divides  Hog  Island  from  the 
shores  of  Canada. 

At  the  discharge  of  the  eighteen  pounder,  the  river  had  been  suddenly 
cleared,  as  if  by  magic,  of  every  canoe ;  while,  warned  by  the  same  danger, 
the  groups  of  inhabitants,  assembled  on  the  bank,  had  rushed  for  shelter  to 
their  respective  homes  ;  so  that,  when  the  schooner  disappeared,  not  a  vestige 
of  human  fife  was  to  be  seen  along  that  vista  so  recently  peopled  with  human 
forms.  An  order  from  Colonel  de  Ilaldimar  to  the  adjutant,  countermanding 
the  sortie,  was  the  first  interruption  to  the  silence  that  had  continued  to  per- 
vade the  little  band  of  officers  ;  aud  two  or  three  of  these  having  hastened  to 
the  western  front  of  the  rampart,  in  order  to  obtain  1,  more  distinct  view  of 
the  movements  of  the  schooner,  their  example  was  speedily  followed  by  the 
remainder,  all  of  whom  now  quitted  the  platform,  and  repaired  to  the  same 
point. 

Here,  with  the  aid  of  their  telescopes,  they  again  distinctly  commanded  a 
view  of  the  vessel,  which  lay  motionless  close  imder  the  sandy  beach  of  the 
island,  and  exhibiting  all  the  technicalities  of  skill  in  the  dispasition  of  sails 
and  yards  peculiar  to  the  profession.  In  vain,  liowever,  Avas  every  eye  strain- 
ed to  discover,  among  the  multitudes  of  savages  that  kept  momentarily  leaping 
to  her  deck,  the  forms  of  those  in  whom  they  were  most  interested.  A  group 
of  some  half  dozen  men.  apparently  common  saflors,  and  those,  in  all  proba- 
bility, whose  services  had  been  compelled  in  the  working  of  the  vessel,  were 
the  only  evidences  that  civilised  man  formed  a  portion  of  that  grotesque  as- 
semblage. These,  with  their  arms  evidently  bound  behind  their  backs,  and 
placed  on  oric  of  the  gangways,  were  only  visible  at  intervals,  as  the  band  of 


174      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

savages  that  surrounded  them,  brandishing  their  tomahawks  around  their 
heads,  occasionally  left  an  opening  in  their  circle.  The  formidable  warrior  of 
the  Fleur  de  Lis  was  no  longer  to  be  seen,  although  the  flag  which  he  had 
■hoisted  sti.ll  fluttered  in  the  breeze. 

'•  All  is  lost,  then,"  ejaculated  the  governor,  with  a  mournfulness  of  voice 
and  manner  that  caused  many  of  his  officers  to  turn  and  regard  him  with 
surprise.  "  That  black  flag  announces  the  triumph  of  my  foe  in  the  too  cer- 
tain destruction  of  my  children.  Now,  indeed."  he  concluded  in  a  lower  tone. 
'•  for  the  first  time,  does  the  curse  of  Ellen  Halloway  sit  heavily  upon  my 
soul." 

A  deep  sigh  burst  from  one  immediately  behind  him.  The  governor  turned 
suddenly  round,  and  beheld  his  son.  Never  did  human  countenance  wear  a 
chp.racter  of  more  poignant  misery  than  that  of  the  unhappy  Charles  at  the 
moment.  Attracted  by  the  report  of  the  cannon,  he  had  flown  to  the  ram- 
part to  ascertain  the  cause,  and  had  reached  his  companions  only  to  learn  the 
strong  hope  so  recently  kindled  in  his  breast  was  fled  for  ever.  His  cheek, 
over  which  hung  his  neglected  hair,  was  now  pale  as  marble,  and  his  lip& 
bloodless  and  parted  ;  yet,  notwithstanding  this  intensity  of  personal  sorrow, 
a  tear  had  started  to  his  eye,  apparently  wrung  from  him  by  this  unusual  ex- 
pression of  dismay  in  his  father. 

"Charles — my  son — my  only  now  remaining  child,"  murmured  the  gov- 
ernor,*with  emotion,  as  he  remarked  and  started  at  the  death-like  image  of 
the  youth  ;  "  look  not  thus,  or  you  will  utterly  unman  me." 

A  sudden  and  involuntary  impulse  caused  him  to  extend  his  arms.  The 
young  ofiicer  sprang  forward  into  the  proffered  embrace,  and  sank  his  head 
upon  the  cheek  of  his  father.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  enjoyed  that  priv- 
ilege since  his  childhood  ;  and  even  overwhelmed  as  he  was  by  his  afiliction, 
he  felt  it  deeply. 

This  short  but  touching  scene  was  witnessed  by  their  companions,  without 
levity  in  any,  and  with  emotion  by  several.  None  felt  more  gratified  at  this 
demonstration  of  parental  affection  for  the  sensitive  boy,  than  Blessington  and 
Erskine. 

"  I  cannot  yet  persuade  myself,"  observed  the  former  officer,  as  the  colonel 
again  assumed  that  dignity  of  demeanor  which  had  been  momentarily  lost 
sight  of  in  the  ebullition  of  his  feelings, — '•  I  cannot  yet  persuade  mj'self 
things  are  altogether  so  bad  as  they  appear.  It  is  true  the  schooner  is  in  the 
possession  of  the  enemy,  but  there  is  nothing  to  prove  our  friends  are  on 
board." 

"  If  you  had  reason  to  know  him  into  whose  hands  she  has  fallen,  as  I  do, 
you  would  think  diflerently,  Captain  Blessington,"  returned  the  governor. 
"  That  mysterious  being,"  he  pursued,  after  a  short  pause,  "  would  never 
have  made  this  parade  of  his  conquest,  had  it  related  merel}'  to  a  few  lives, 
which  to  him  are  of  utter  insignificance.  The  very  substitution  of  yon  black 
flag,  in  his  insolent  triirfnph,  was  the  pledge  of  redemption  of  a  threat  breath- 
ed in  my  ear  within  this  very  fort ;  on  what  occasion  I  need  not  state,  since 
the  events  connected  with  that  unhappy  night  are  still  fresh  in  the  recollec- 
tions of  HS  all.  That  he  is  my  personal  enemy,  gentlemen,  it  would  be  in 
vain  to  disguise  from  you  ;  although  who  he  is,  or  of  what  nature  his  enmity, 
it  imports  not  now  to  enter  upon.  Suffice  it,  I  have  little  doubt  my  children 
are  in  his  power  ;  but  whether  the  black  flag  indicates  they  are  no  more,  or 
that  the  tragedy  is  only  in  preparation,  I  confess  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand.* 

Deeply  affected  by  the  evident  despondency  that  had  dictated  these  unusual 
admissions  on  the  part  of  their  chief,  the  officers  were,  forward  to  combat  the 
inferences  he  had  drawn ;  several  coinciding  in  the  opinion  now  expressed  by 
Captain  Wentworth,  that  the  fact  of  the  schooner  having  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  savages  by  no  means  implied  the  capture  of  the  fort  whence  she  came ; 
since  it  was  not  at  all  unlikely  she  had  been  chased  during  a  calm  by  the  nu- 


C  I)  U  6  T  A 


THE      P  R  O  P  JI   E  C  Y  .  175 


merous  canoes  into  the  Sinclair,  where,  owing  Lo  the  cxti'ciuc  narrowness  of 
the  river,  she  had  fnllcn  an  easy  prey. 

'•  ^Moreover,"  observed  Captain  Tilessington,  '■  it  is  highly  improbable  the 
ferocious  warrior  could  have  succeeded  in  capturing  any  others  than  the  uu- 
fortimate  crew  of  the  schooner  ;  for  liad  this  been  the  case,  lie  would  not 
have  lost  the  opportunity  of  crowning  his  triumph  by  exhibiting  his  victims 
to  our  view  in  some  conspicuous  part  of  the  vessel." 

"  This,  f  grant  you,"  rejoined  the  governor  "  to  be  one  solitary  circum- 
stance in  our  favor  ;  but  may  it  not,  after  all,  merely  prove  that  our  worst'ap- 
prehensions  arc  already  realised?" 

••  He  is  not  one,  methinks,  since  vengeance  seems  his  aim.  to  exercise  it  in 
so  summary,  and  therefore  merciful,  a  manner.  l)ei)ind  upun  i(.  ci^icnol,  had 
any  one  of  those  in  whom  Ave  are  more  immediately  interevsu  d,  laliin  into  his 
hands,  he  would  not  have  failed  to  insult  and  agonise  us  by  an  exhibition  of 
his  prisoners." 

''You  are  right,  Blessington,"  exclaimed  Charles  de  Haldimar,  in  a  voice 
that  his  choking  feelings  rendered  almost  sepulchral ;  "  he  is  not  one  to  ex- 
ercise his  vengeance  in  a  summary  and  merciful  manner.  The  deed  is  yet  un- 
accomphshed,  for  even  now  the  curse  of  Ellen  Halloway  rings  again  in  my 
ear,  and  tells  me  the  atoning  blood  must  be  spilt  on  the  grave  of  her  luis- 
band." 

The  peculiar  tone  in  which  these  words  were  uttered,  caused  every  one  pre- 
sent to  turn  and  regard  the  speaker,  for  they  recalled  the  prophetic  language 
of  the  unhappy  woman.  There  was  now  a  wildness  of  expression  in  his  hand- 
some features,  raarldng  the  mind  utterly  dead  to  hope,  yet  struggling  to  v/ork 
itself  up  to  passive  endurance  of  the  worst.  Colonel  de  Haldimar  .sighed 
painfull}',  as  he  bent  his  eye  half  reproachful^  on  the  dull  and  attenuated 
featm-es  of  his  son  ;  and  although  he  spoke  not,  his  look  betrayed  the  anguish 
that  allusion  had  called  up  to  ius  heart. 

'•Ha!  what  new  movement  is  that  on  the  part  of  the  savages'?"  exclaimed 
Captain  Erskme.  who  had  kept  his  glass  to  his  eye  mechanically,  and  chiefly 
with  a  view  of  hiding  the  emotion  produced  in  him  by  the  almost  iufimtine 
despair  of  the  younger  de  Haldimar :  "  surely  it  is — yet,  no,  it  cannot  be — 
yes,  see  how  they  are  dragging  several  prisoners  from  the  wood  to  the  beach. 
I  can  distinctly  see  a  man  in  a  blanket  coat,  and  two  others  considerably 
taller,  and  apparently  sailors.  But  look,  behind  them  are  two  females  in  Eu- 
ropean dress.     Almighty  heaven  !  there  can  be  no  doubt." 

A  painful  pause  ensued.  Every  other  glass  and  eye  was  levelled  in  the  same 
direction  ;  and,  as  Ersldne  had  described  it,  a  party  of  Indians  were  seen,  by 
tho.se  who  had  the  telescopes,  conducting  five  prisoners  towards  a  canoe  that 
lay  in  the  channel  communicating  from  the  island  with  the  main  land  on  the 
Detroit  shore.  Into  the  bottom  of  these  they  were  presently  huddled,  so 
that  onlj^  their  heads  and  shoulders  were  visible  above  the  gunwale  of 
the  frail  bark.  Presently  a  tall  warrior  was  seen  bounchng  from  the  wood 
towards  the  beach.  The  crowd  of  gesticulating  Indians  made  way,  and  the 
warrior  was  seen  to  stoop  and  apply  his  shoulder  to  the  canoe,  one  half  of 
which  was  high  and  dry  upon  the  sands.  The  heavily  laden  vessel  obey- 
ed the  impetus  with  a  rapidity  that  proved  the  muscular  power  of  him  who 
gave  it.  Like  some  wild  animal,  iastinet  with  life,  it  lashed  the  foaming 
waters  from  its  bows,  and  left  a  deep  and  gurgling  furrow  where  it  pass- 
ed. As  it  quitted  the  shore  the  warrior  sprang  lightly  in,  taking  his  sta- 
tion at  the  stern;  and  while  liis  tall  and  remarkable  figure  bent  nimbly 
to  the  movement,  he  dashed  his  paddle  from  right  to  left  alternately  in  the 
stream,  with  a  quickness  that  rendered  it  almost  invisible  to  the  eye.  Pre- 
sently the  canoe  disappeared  round  an  intervening  headland,  and  the  officers 
lost  .sight  of  it  altogether. 

•'  The  portrait,  Charles  ;  what  have  you  done  with  the  portrait  ?"  exclaimed 
Captain  Blessington,  actuated  by  a  sudden  recollection,  and  with  a  trepidation 


176  .wacousta;    ok,    the    prophecy. 

in  his  voice  and  manner  that  spoke  volumes  of  despair  to  the  younger  de  Hal- 
dimar.  "  This  is  our  only  hope  of  solving  the  mystery..  Quick,  give  me  the 
portrait,  if  you  have  it." 

The  j'oung  ofBcer  hurriedly  tore  the  miniature  from  the  breast  of  his  uni- 
form, and  pitched  it  through  the  interval  that  separated  him  from  his  captain, 
who  stood  a  few  feet  off;  but  with  so  uncertain  and  trembling  an  aim.  it 
missed  the  hand  extended  to  secure  it,  and  fell  upon  the  very  stone  the  youth 
had  formerly  pointed  out  to  Blessington,  as  marking  the  particular  spot  on 
which  he  stood  during  the  execution  of  Halloway.  The  violence  of  the  fall 
separated  the  back  of  the  frame  from  the  pictqre  itself,  when  suddenly  a  piece 
of  white  and  crumbled  paper,  apparently  part  of  the  back  of  a  letter,  yet  cut 
the  size  and  shape  of  the  miniature,  was  exhibited  to  the  view  of  all. 

"  Ha  !"  resumed  the  gratified  Blessington,  as  he  stooped  to  possess  himself 
of  the  prize  ;  "  I  knew  the  miniature  would  be  found  to  contain  some  intelli- 
gence from  our  friends.  It  is  only  this  moment  it  occurred  to  me  to  take  it 
to  pieces,  but  accident  has  anticipated  my  purpose.  May  the  omen  prove  a 
good  one  !     But  what  have  we  here  ?" 

With  some  difficulty,  the  anxious  officer  now  succeeded  in  making  out  the 
characters,  which,  in  default  of  pen  or  pencil,  had  been  formed  by  the  prick- 
ing of  a  fine  pin  on  the  paper.  The  Ijroken  sentences,  on  which  the  whole 
of  the  group  now  hung  with  greedy  ear,  ran  nearly  as  follows  : — '•  Al  is  lost. 
Michillimackinac  is  taken.  We  are  prisoners,  and  doomed  to  die  within  eight 
and  forty  hours.  Alas  !  Clara  and  2^Iadeliue  are  of  our  number.  Still  there 
is  a  hope,  if  my  father  deem  it  prudent  to  incur  the  risk.  A  surprise,  well 
managed,  may  do  much;  but  it  must  be  to-morrow  night ;  forty-eight  hours 
more,  and  it  will  be  of  no  avail.  He  who  will  deliver  this  is  our  fi-iend,  and 
the  enemy  of  my  fjvther's  enemy.  He  will  be  in  the  spot  at  the  same  hour  to- 
morrow night,  and  will  conduct  the  detachment  to  wherever  we  may  chance 
to  be.  If  you  fail  in  your  enterprise,  receive  our  last  prayers  for  a  less  disas- 
trous fate.     God  bless  yovi  all !" 

The  blood  ran  coldly  through  every  vein  during  the  perusal  of  these  impor- 
tant sentences,  but  not  one  word  of  comment  was  oifered  by  an  individual  of 
the  group.  No  explanation  was  necessary.  The  captives  in  the  canoe,  the 
tall  warrior  in  its  stern,  all  sufficiently  betrayed  the  horrible  truth.  Colonel 
de  Haldiniar  at  length  turned  an  enquiring  look  at  his  two  captains,  and  then 
addressing  the  adjutant,  asked — '•  AVhat  companies  are  off  duty  to-day,  Mr. 
Lawson  V 

"  Mine,"  said  Blessington,  Avith  an  energy  that  denoted  how  deeply  rejoiced 
he  felt  at  the  fact,  without  giving  the  adjutant  time  to  reply. 

"  And  mine,"  impetuously  added  Captain  Erskine ;  "  and  (with  an  oath)  I 
will  answer  for  them  ;  they  never  embarked  on  a  duty  of  that  sort  with  greater 
zeal  than  they  will  on  this  occasion." 

"  Gentlemen,  1  thank  you,"  said  Colonel  de  Haldimar,  with  deep  emotion, 
as  he  stepped  forward  and  grasped  in  turn  the  hands  of  the  generous-hearted 
officers.     "  To  heaven,  and  to  your  exertions,  do  I  commit  my  children  !" 

"  Any  artillery,  colonel  V  enquired  the  officer  of  that  corps. 

"No,  Wentworth,  no  artillery.  Whatever  remains  to  be  done,  must  be 
achieved  by  the  bayonet  alone,  and  under  favor  of  the  darkness.  Gentlemen, 
again  I  thank  you  for  this  generous  interest  in  my  children — this  forwardness 
in  an  enterprise  on  which  dejiend  the  lives  of  so  many  dear  friends.  1  am  not 
given  to  express  warm  emotion,  but  I  do,  indeed,  appreciate  this  conduct 
deeply."  He  then  moved  away,  desiring  Mr.  Lawson,  as  he  quitted  the  ram- 
part, to  cause  the  men  for  this  service  to  be  got  in  instant  readiness. 

Following  the  example  of  their  colonel,  Captain  Blessington  and  Erskine 
quitted  the  rampart  also,  hastening  to  satisfy  themselves  by  personal  inspec- 
tion of  the  efficiency  in  all  respects  of  their  several  companies  5  and  in  a  few 
minutes,  the  only  individual  to  be  seen  in  that  quarter  of  the  works  was  the 
sentinel,  who  had  been  a  sdent  and  pained  witness  of  all  that  passed  among 
his  officers. 


wacoitsta;    or,    the    prophecy.  177 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Sufficient  has  been  shown,  from  the  conversations  amonf^  his  officers, 
elsewhere  transcribed,  to  account  for  the  governor's  condiuit  in  the  case  of 
Halloway.  That  the  recommendations  of  his  son,  Captain  de  Ihddiniar,  had  not 
been  attended  to,  arose  not  from 'any  particular  ill-will  towards  the  unhappy 
man.  but  simply  because  he  had  always  been  in  the  habit  of  nialv.iug  liis  own 
.selections  from  the  ranks,  and  tliat  the  present  recommendation  had  been 
warmlv  urged  by  one  whom  he  fancied  [nctended  to  a  discrimination  superior 
to  his  own,  in  pointing  out  merits  tliat  had  escaped  his  observation.  It  might 
be,  too,  that  there  was  a  latent  pride  about  the  manner  of  Halloway  that  dis- 
pleased and  dissatisfied  one  who  looked  upon  his  subordinates  as  things  that 
were  amenable  to  the  haughtiness  of  his  glance, — not  enough  of  deference  in 
his  demeanor,  nor  of  supplicating  obsequiousness  in  his  speech,  to  entitle  him 
to  the  promotion  prayed  for.  Whatever  the  motive,  there  was  nothing  of  per- 
sonality to  influence  him  in  the  rejection  of  the  appeal  made  in  favor  of  one 
who  had  never  injured  him ;  but  who.  on  the  contrary,  as  the  whole  of  the 
regiment  could  attest,  had  saved  the  life,  of  his  son. 

Rigid  discipUnarian  as  he  was,  and  holding  himself  responsible  for  the  safety 
of  the  garrison,  it  was  but  natural,  when  the  discovery  had  been  made  of  the 
unaccountable  unfastening  of  the  gate  of  the  fort,  suspicion  of  no  ordinary  kind 
should  attach  to  the  sentinel  posted  there  ;  and  that  he  should  steadily  refuse 
all  credence  to  a  story  wearing  so  much  appearance  of  improbability.  Proud, 
and  inliexible,  and  bigoted  to  first  impressions,  his  mind  was  closed  against 
those  palliating  circumstances,  which,  adduced  by  Halloway  in  his  defence,  had 
so  mainl}-  contributed  to  stamp  the  conviction  of  his  moral  innocence  on  the 
minds  of  his  judges  and  the  attentive  auditory ;  and  could  he  even  have  con- 
quered his  pride  so  far  as  to  have  admitted  the  belief  of  that  innocence,  stiU 
the  military  crime  of  Avhich  he  had  been  guilty,  in  infringing  a  positive  order 
of  the  garrison,  was  in  itself  sufficient  to  call  forth  all  the  unrelenting  severity 
of  his  nature.  Throughout  the  whole  of  the  proceedings  subsequently  insti- 
tuted, he  had  acted  and  spoken  from  a  perfect  conviction  of  the  treason  of  the 
imfortunate  soldier,  and  '\A-ith  the  fullest  impression  of  the  falsehood  of  all  that 
had  been  oS'ered  in  his  defence.  The  considerations  that  influenced  the  minds 
of  his  officers,  found  no  entrance  into  his  proud  breast,  which  was  closed 
against  everything  but  his  own  dignified  sense  of  superior  judgment.  Could  he, 
like  them,  have  given  credence  to  the  tale  of  Halloway,  or  really  have  believed 
that  Captain  de  Haldimar,  educated  under  his  own  military  eye,  could  have 
been  so  wanting  in  subordination,  as  not  merely  to  have  infringed  a  positive  or- 
der of  the  garrison,  but  to  have  made  a  private  soldier  of  that  garrison  acces- 
sary to  his  delinquency,  it  is  more  than  probable  his  stern  habits  of  military 
discipline  would  have  caused  him  to  overlook  the  offence  of  the  soldier,  in 
deeper  indignation  at  the  conduct  of  the  infinitel}^  more  culpable  officer ;  but 
not  one  word  did  he  credit  of  a  statement,  which  he  assumed  had  been  got  up 
by  the  prisoner  with  the  mere  view  of  shielding  himself  from  punishment:  and 
■when  to  these  .suspicions  of  his  fidelity  was  attached  the  fact  of  the  introduc- 
tion of  his  alarming  visiter,  it  must  be  confessed  his  motives  for  indulging  in 
this  belief  were  not  without  foundation. 

The  impatience  manifested  during  the  trial  of  Halloway  was  not  a  result  of 
any  desire  of  .systematic  persecution,  but  of  a  sense  of  wounded  dignity.  It 
was  a  thing  unheard  of,  and  unpardonable  in  his  eyes,  for  a  private  soldier  to 
a.ssert,  in  his  presence,  his  honor  and  his  respectabihty  in  extenuation,  even 
while  admitting  the  justice  of  a  specific  charge  ;  and  when  he  remarked  the 
court  listening  with  that  profound  attention,  which  the  peculiar  history  of  the 
prisoner  had  excited,  he  couW  not  repress  the  manifestation  of  his  anger.  In 
justice  to  him.  however,  it  must  be  acknowledged  that,  in  causing  the  charge, 
13 


1*78      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

to  which  the  unfortunate  man  pleaded  guilty,  to  be  framed,  he  had  only  acted 
from  the  conviction  that,  on  the  two  first,  there  was  not  sufficient  evidence  to 
condemn  one  whose  crime  was  as  clearly  established,  to  his  judgment,  as  if  he 
had  been  an  eye-witness  of  the  treason.  It  is  true,  he  availed  himself  of  Hal- 
loway's  voluntary  confession,  to  effect  his  condemnation  ;  but  estimating  him 
as  a  traitor,  he  felt  little  delicacy  was  necessary  to  be  observed  on  that  score. 

Much  of  the  despotic  military  character  of  Colonel  de  Haldimar  had  been 
communicated  to  his  private  life;  so  much. ■indeed,  that  his  sons, — both  of 
whom,  it  has  been  seen,  were  of  natures  that  belied  their  origin  from  so  stern 
a  stock, — were  kept  at  nearly  as  great  a  distance  from  liim  as  any  other  sub- 
ordinates of  his  regiment.  But  although  he  seldom  indulged  in  manifestations 
of  parental  regard  towards  those  whom  he  looked  upon  rather  as  inferiors  in 
military  rank,  than  as  beings  connected  with  him  b}^  the  ties  of  blood.  Colonel 
de  Haldimar  was  not  without  that  instinctive  love  for  his  children,  which 
every  animal  in  the  creation  feels  for  its  offspring.  He,  also,  valued  and  took 
a  pride  in,  because  they  reflected  a  certain  degree  of  lustre  upon  himself,  the 
talents  and  accomplishments  of  his  eldest  sen.  who,  moreover,  was  a  brave, 
enterprising  officer,  and,  only  wanted,  in  his  father's  estimation,  that  severity 
of  carriage  and  hauteur  of  deportment,  befitting  Ms  son,  to  render  him  per- 
fect. As  for  Charles, — the  gentle,  bland,  winning,  universally  concihating 
Charles, — he  looked  upon  him  a  mere  weo.k  boy.  who  could  never  hope  to  ar- 
rive at  any  post  of  distinction,  if  only  by  reason  of  the  extreme  delicacy  of  his 
physical  organisation  ;  and  to  have  shown  ani/thiug  like  respect  for  his  char- 
acter, indulged  in  any  expression  of  tenderness  for  one  so  fer  below  his  esti- 
mate of  what  a  soldier,  a  child  of  his.  ought  to  be.  would  have  been  a  conces- 
sion of  which  his  proud  nature  was  incapable.  In  his  daughter  Clara,  however, 
the  gentleness  of  sex  claimed  that  warmer  affection  which  was  denied  to  him 
who  resembled  her  in  almost  every  attribute  of  mind  and  person.  Colonel  de 
Haldimar  doated  on  his  daughter  with  a  tenderness,  for  which  few  who  were 
familiar  with  his  harsh  and  unbending  nature,  ever  gave  him  credit.  She  was 
the  image  of  one  on  whom  all  of  love  that  he  had  ever  known  had  been  cen- 
tered ;  and  he  had  continued  in  Clara  an  affection,  that  seemed  in  itself  to 
form  a  portion,  distinct  and  apart,  of  his  existence. 

We  have  already  seen,  as  stated  by  Charles  de  Haldimar  to  the  unfortu- 
nate wife  of  Halloway,  with  what  little  success  he  had  pleaded  in  the  inter- 
view he  had  requested  of  his  father  for  the  preserver  of  his  gailant  brother's 
life ;  and  we  have  also  seen  how  equally  inefficient  was  the  lowly  and  suppli- 
cating anguish  of  that  wretched  being,  when  on  quitting  the  apartment  of  his 
son.  Colonel  de  Haldimar  had  so  unexpcctedh^  found  himself  clasped  in  her 
despairing  embrace.  There  was  little  to  be  expected  from  an  intercession  on 
the  part  of  one  claiming  so  little  ascendancy  over  his  father's  heart  as  the 
universally  esteemed  young  officer  ;  still  less  from  one  who.  in  her  shriek  of 
agon}^,  had  exposed  the  haughty  chief  to  the  observation  both  of  men  and 
officers,  and  under  circumstances  that  caused  his  position  to  border  on  the  lu- 
dicrous. But  however  these  considerations  might  have  failed  in  effect,  there 
was  another  which,  as  a  soldier,  he  could  not  wholly  overlook.  Although  he 
had  offered  no  comment  on  the  extraordinary  recommendation  to  mercy  an- 
nexed to  the  sentence  of  the  prisoner,  it  had  a  certain  weight  with  him  ;  and 
he  felt,  all  absolute  even  as  he  was,  he  could  not,  without  exciting  strong  dis- 
satisfaction among  his  troops,  refuse  attention  to  a  document  so  powerfully 
worded,  and  bearing  the  signature  and  approval  of  so  old  and  valuable  an 
officer  as  Captain  Blessington.  His  determination,  therefore,  had  been  formed, 
even  before  his  visit  to  his  son,  to  act  as  circumstances  might  require ;  and, 
in  the  meanwhile,  he  commanded  every  preparation  for  the  execution  to  be 
made. 

In  causing  a  strong  detachment  to  be  marched  to  the  conspicuous  point 
chosen  for  his  purpose,  he  had  acted  from  a  conviction  of  the  necessity  of 
showing  the  enemy  the  treason  of  the  soldier  had  been  detected  ;  reserving 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE     P  R  O  I'  II  E  C  Y  ,  llQs' 

to  himself  the  determination  of  carfjinp;  the  sentence  into-  full  effect,  or  par- 
doning the  condemned,  as  the  event  might  warrant.  Not  one  moment,  meait- 
while,  did  he  doubt  the  guilt  of  Halloway,  whose  description  of  the  person 
of  his  enemy  was,  in  itself,  to  him,  confirmatory  evidence  of  his  treason.  It 
is  doubtful  whether  he  would,  in  any  way.  have  ))oen  influenced  by  the  recoirir- 
inendation  of  the  court,  had  the  first  charges  been  substantiated ;  but  as 
f.here  was  nothing  but  conjecture  to  bear  out  these,  and  as  the  prisoner  Iitai 
been  convicted  only  on  the  ground  of  suffering  Captain  de  Haldimar  to  qmt 
the  fort  contrary  to  orders,  he  felt  he  might  possibly  go  too  far  in  carrj^ing 
the  capital  punishment  into  effect,  in  decided  opposition  to  the  general  feeling 
of  the  garrison, — both  of  oftlcers  and  men.  . 

When  the  shot  was  subsequently  fired  from  the  hut  of  the  Canadian,  and 
the  daring  rifleman  recognised  as  the  same  fearful  individual  who  had  gairtedi 
access  to  his  apartment  the  preceding  night,  conviction  of  the  guilt  of  Hallo- 
way  came  even  deeper  home  to  the  mind  oif  the  governor.  It  was  tliroTigfe; 
Francois  alone  that  a  communication  was  kept  up  secretly  be''.  ■  -  :•■- 
rison  and  several  of  the  Canadians  without  the  fort ;  and  the  \ 
mysterious  warrior  having  been  there  so  recently  after  his  darii  i'  •  >;. 
bore  evidence  that  whatever  treason  was  in  operation,  had  been  carried  c/n- 
tlvrough  the  instrumentality  of  mine  host  of  the  Fleur  de  Li:-;.  In  pmoC 
moreover, 'there  was  the  hat  of  Donellan,  and  the  very  rope  Halloway  hiul 
stated  to  be  that  by  which  the  unfortunate  officer  had  etiected  his  exit.  Cole*- 
nel  de  Haldimar  was  not  one  given  to  indulge  in  the  mysterious  or  to  behere 
in  the  romantic.  Everything  was  plain  matter  of  fact,  as  it  now  appeareti 
before  him  ;  and  he  thought  it  evident,  as  though  it  had  been  written  in  wora? 
of  fire,  that  if  his  son  and  his  unfortunate  servant  ha  i  qu!i:ieil  ih  '  f.irt  in  tlie 
manner  represented,  it  was  no  l"-<  '•.■:-, i-i)  t'l.'y  h:;''  '  '-:  '■  ■■■  ■  ■  '  .-'  "'■■■:  a  partj^^ 
at  the  head  of  whom  was  his  v';i  ''.i-i''\ c  ('';vi;;y.  ■'  '  .  ■  ■  's  '!■  '  HM-,;\nce  of 
Halloway.  We  hnve  s'vu.tl)";,  -J'  .■■■  Or  .li-v..-..:  ,-v  .s  ,::i-  s_-.\  (il'Lh',  supposed 
drummer-boy  wht'ii  ii;c  riisr-.  ■.  :  ..>\':>  i;-  ■  i  ^.liier,  Colonel  de  Haf- 
dimar  had  closely  -w;?;.':^,!  ;'i;  ,  .\ -,  -.v.!)  ^i'  , ,,  ■,  >  -  i-ib ■nances,  but  failed  m 
discovering  anj'thing  thatconid  t)e  traced  into  evidence  of  a  guilty  recognition. 
Slill  he  conceived  his  original  impression  to  have  been  too  forcibly  borne  oat, 
even  by  the  events  of  the  last  half  hour,  to  allow  this  to  have  much  weight 
with  him  ;  and  his  determination  to  carry  the  thing  through  all  its  fcax'fui* 
preliminary  stages  became  more  and  more  confirmed. 

In  adopting  this  resolution  in  the  first  instance,  he  was  not  without  a  hope- 
that  Halloway,  standing,  as  he  must  feel  himself  to  be.  on  the  verge  of  the 
grave,  might  be  induced  to  make  confession  of  his  guilt,  and  communicate 
whatever  particulars  might  prove  essential  not  only  to  the  safety  of  the  gar- 
rison generally,  but  to  himself  individually,  as  i'-w  ii^  \v..<  jiersonrJ  enemy  %vas 
concerned.  With  this  view,  he  had  charged  Captain  IJlessiiigton,  in  the 
course  of  then-  march  from  the  hut  to  the  fatal  bridge,  to  pr-omise  a  fidl  par- 
don, provided  he  should  niake  such  confession  of  his  crime  as  would  lead  to  a 
just  appreciation  of  the  evils  likely  to  result  from  l!;e  treason  that  had  iir 
part  been  accomplished.  Even  in  making  this  provi-ion.  1m>',\ ever,  wliich  was 
met  by  the  prisoner  with  solemn  yet  dignified  r<i('  m  ion  nf  Ids  innoceiiace. 
Colonel  de  Haldimar  had  not  made  the  refusal  of  paiclun  aj together  conehi- 
sive  in  his  own  mind  :  still,  in  adopting  this  plan,  there  was  a  chance  of  ob- 
taining a  confession  ;  and  not  until  there  was  no  longer  a  prospect  of  the  un- 
happy man  being  led  into  that  confession,  did  he  feel  it  imperative  on  him  to 
stay  the  progress  of  tho  tragedy. 

What  the  result  would  have' been,  had  not  Halloway,  in  the  strong  excite- 
ment of  liis  feelings,  sprung  to  his  feet  upon  the  coffin,  uttering  the  exclama- 
tion of  triumph,  is  scarcely  doubtful.  Ilov/ever  much  the  governor  migM 
have  contemned  and  slighted  a  credulity  in  which  he  in  no  way  participated 
himself,  he  had  too  iviucn.  discrimination  not  to  perceive,  that  to  have  ]}er.^e- 
vered  in  the  capital  jjunishraeut  woidd  have  been  to  liave  rendered  liimx-eif 


180  w  AGO  u  ST  a;     or,    the     puophecy. 

personally  obnoxious  to  the  comrades  of  the  condemned,  vrhose  dispirited  aii" 
and  sullen  mien,  he  clearlj-  saw,  denounced  the  punishment  as  one  of  unneces- 
sary rigoi-.  The  haughty  commander  was  not  a  man  to  be  intimidated  by 
manifestations  of  discontent ;  neither  was  he  one  to  brook  a  spirit  of  insubor- 
dination, however  forcibly  supported ;  but  ho  had  too  much  experience  and 
military  judgment,  not  to  determine  that  this  was  not  a  moment,  by  foregoing 
an  act  of  compulsory  clemency,  to  instil  divisions  in  the  garrison,  when  the 
safety  of  all  so  much  depended  on  the  cheerfulness  and  unanimity  with  which 
they  lent  themselves  to  the  arduous  duties  of  defence. 

^  However  originating  in  policy-,  the  lenity  he  might  liave  been  induced  to 
have  shown,  all  idea  of  the  kind  was  chased  from  his  mind  by  the  unfortunate 
action  of  the  prisoner.  At  the  moment  when  the  distant  heights  resounded 
with  the  fierce  yells  of  the  savages,  and  leaping  forms  came  bounding  dovm 
the  slope,  the  remarkable  warrior  of  the  Flem-  de  Lis — the  fearful  enemy  who 
had  whispered  the  most  demoniac  vengeance  in  his  ears  the  preceding  night, — 
was  the  only  one  that  met  and  rivetecl  the  gaze  of  the  governor.  He  paused 
not  to  observe  or  to  think  who  the  flying  man  could  be  of  whom  the  myste- 
rious warrior  was  in  pursuit, — neither  did  it,  indeed,  occur  to  him  that  it  was. 
a  pursuit  at  all.  But  one  idea  suggested  itself  to  his  mind,  and  that  was  an 
attempt  at  rescue  of  the  condemned  on  the  part  of  his  accomplice ;  and  when 
at  length  Halloway,  who  had  at  once,  as  if  by  instinct,  recognised  his  captain 
in  the  fugitive,  shouted  forth  his  gratitude  to  heaven  that  "  he  at  length  ap- 
proached who  alone  had  the  power  to  save  him,"  every  shadow  of  mercj^  was 
banished  from  the  mmd  of  the  governor,  who,  laljoring  under  a  natural  mis- 
conception of  the  causes  of  his  exulting  shout,  felt  that  justice  imperatively 
demanded  her  victim,  and  no  longer  hesitated  in  awarding  the  doom  that 
became  the  supposed  traitor.  It  was  under  this  impression  that  he  sternly 
gave  and  repeated  the  order  to  fire :  and  by  this  misjudged  and  severe,  al- 
though not  absolutely  cruel  act,  not  only  destroyed  one  of  the  noblest  beings 
that  ever  wore  a  soldier's  uniform,  but  entailed  upon  himself  and  family  that 
terrific  curse  of  his  maniac  wife,  which  rang  like  a  prophetic  warning  in  the 
ears  of  all,  and  was  often  heard  in  the  fitful  startings  of  his  own  ever-after 
troubled  slumbers. 

What  his  feelings  wci-e,  when  subsequently  he  discovered,  in  the  wretched 
fugitive,  the  son  whom  he  already  believed  to  have  been  numbered  with  the 
dead,  and  heard  from  his  lips  a  confirmation  of  all  that  had  been  advanced  by 
the  unhappy  Hallowaj',  we  shall  leave  it  to  our  readers  to  imagine.  Still, 
even  amid  his  first  regret,  the  rigid  disciplinarian  was  strong  within  him  ;  and 
no  sooner  had  the  detachment  regained  the  fort,  after  performing  the  last 
offices  of  interment  over  their  ill-fated  comrade,  than  Captain  de  Haldimar 
received  an  intimation,  through  the  adjutant,  to  consider  himself  under  close 
.arrest  for  disobedience  of  orders.  Finallj',  however,  he  succeeded  in  procur- 
ing an  interview  with  his  father  ;  in  the  course  of  which,  disclosing  the  plot 
of  the  Indians,  and  the  short  period  allotted  for  its  being  carried  into  execu- 
tion, he  painted  in  the  most  gloomy  colors  the  alarming  dangers  which  threatened 
them  all,  and  finished  by  urgently  imploring  his  father  to  suifer  him  to  make 
the  attempt  to  reach  their  unsuspecting  friends  at  Michillimackiuac.  Fully 
impressed  with  the  difficulties  attendant  on  a  scheme  that  offered  so  few  feasi- 
ble chances  of  success.  Colonel  de  Haldimar  for  a  period  denied  his  concur- 
rence ;  but  when  at  length  the  excited  young  man  dwelt  on  the  horrors  that 
would  inevitably  await  his  sister  and  betrothed  cousin,  were  they  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  savages,  these  considerations  were'found  to  be  elFective.  An 
after  arrangement  included  Sir  Everard  Valletort.  who  had  expressed  a  strong 
,  desire  to  share  his  danger  in  the  enterprise  :  and  the  services  of  the  Canadian, 
who  had  been  brought  back  a  prisoner  to  the  fort,  and  on  whom  promises  and 
threats  were  bestowed  in  an  equally  lavish  manner,  were  rendered  available. 
In  fact,  without  the  assistance  of  Francois,  there  was  little  chance  of  their 
effecting  in  safety  the  navigation  of  the  waters  through  which  they  were  to 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A   ;      OR,     T  11  K      PR  ()  1'  II  E  C  Y  ,  181 

pa>;s  to  arrive  at  the  fort.  Tie  it  was.  who.  wlien  ■liiuiuione'l  to  attend  a  con- 
forence  among;  the  officers,  hearing  on  the  nicins  to  be  adopted,  suggested  the 
proprict}-  of  their  disguii^ing  themselves  as  Canadian  duck  hunters  ;  in  which 
cliaracter  tliey  might  expect  to  pass  immolcsted,  even  if  encountered  by  any 
outlying  parties  of  the  savages.  With  the  doubts  that  had  previously  been 
entertained  of  the  fidelity  of  Francois,  there  was  an  air  of  forlorn  hope  given 
to  the  enterprise  ;  still,  as  the  man  expressed  sincere  earnestness  of  desire  to 
repay  the  clemency  accorded  him,  by  a  faithful  exercise  of  his  services,  and 
as  the  object  sought  was  one  that  justified  the  risk,  there  was,  notwithstand- 
ing, a  latent  hope  cherished  by  all  parties,  that  the  event  would  prove  success- 
ful.    We  have  already  seen  to  vvhat  extent  their  anticipations  were  realized, 

AVhcther  it  was  that  he  .sccretlj-  acknowledged  the  too  excessive  stei-nness 
of  his  justice  in  regard  to  Ilallovray  (who  still,  in  the  true  acceptation  of  facts, 
had  been  guilty  of  a  crime  that  entailed  the  penalty  he  had  paid.)  or  that  the 
apprehension  that  arose  to  his  heart  in  regard  to  her  on  whom  he  j'earned 
with  all  a  lather's  Ibndness  governed  his  conduct,  certain  it  is,  that,  from  the 
hour  of  the  disclosure  made  by  his  son  Colonel  de  Haldimar  became  an  alter- 
ed man.  AVithont  losing  any  thing  of  that  dignity  of  manner,  which  had 
hitherto  been  confounded  with  the  most  repellant  haughtiness  of  bearing,  liis 
demeanor  towards  his  officers  became  more  courteous  ;  and  although,  as  here- 
tofore, he  kept  himself  entirely  aloof,  except  when  occasions  of  duty  brought 
them  together,  still,  when  they  did  meet,  there  was  more  of  conciliation  in  his 
manner,  and  less  of  austerity  in  his  speech.  There  was.  moreover  a  dqection 
in  his  eye,  strongly  in  contrast  with  his  former  imperious  glance ;  and  more 
than  one  officer  remarked,  that,  if  his  days  were  devoted  to  the  customary 
practical  arrangements  for  defence,  his  pallid  countenance  betokened  that  his 
nights  were  nights  rather  of  vigil  than  repose. 

However  natural  and  deep  the  alarm  entertained  for  the  fate  of  the  sister 
fort,  there  could  be  no  apprehension  on  the  mind  of  Colonel  de  Haldimar  in 
regard  to  liis  own  ;  since,  furnished  with  the  means  of  foiling  his  enemies 
with  their  own  weapons  of  cunning  and  deceit,  a  few  extraordinary  precau- 
tious alone  were  necessaiy  to  secure  all  immunity  from  danger.  Whatever 
might  be  the  stern  peculiarities  of  his  character, — and  these  had  originated 
chiefly  in  an  education  purely  military, — Colonel  de  Haldimar  was  an  officer 
well  calculated  to  the  important  trust  reposed  in  him  ;  for,  combining  experi- 
ence with  judgment  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  diplomacy  of  war,  and  being 
fully  conversant  with  the  character  and  habits  of  the  enemy  opposed  to  him, 
lie  possessed  singular  aptitude  to  seize  whatever  advantages  might  present 
themselves. 

The  prudence  and  caution  of  his  policy  have  already  been  made  manifest  in 
the  two  several  council  scenes  with  the  chiefs  recorded  in  oiu-  previous  pages. 
It  may  appear  singular,  that,  with  the  opportunity  thus  aflbrded  him  of  re- 
taining the  formidable  Ponteac, — the  strength  and  sinew  of  that  long  pro- 
tracted and  ferocious  war. — in  his  power,  he  should  have  waived  his  advantage ; 
but  here  Colonel  de  Haldimar  gave  evidence  of  the  tact  which  so  eminently 
distinguished  liis  public  conduct  throughout.  He  well  knew  the  noble,  fear- 
less character  of  the  chief;  and  felt,  if  any  hold  was  to  be  secured  over  him, 
it  was  by  grappling  with  his  generosity,  and  not  by  the  exercise  of  intimida- 
tion. Even  admitting  that  Ponteac  continued  his  prisoner,  and  that  the  troops, 
pouring  their  destructive  fire  upon  the  mass  of  enemies  so  suddenly  arrested 
on  the  drawbridge,  had  swept  away  the  whole,  still  they  were  but  as  a  mite 
among  the  numerous  nations  that  were  leagued  against  the  English  ;  and  to 
these  nations,  it  was  evident,  thej'  must,  sooner  or  later,  succumb. 

Colonel  de  Haldimar  knew  enough  of  the  proud  but  generous  nature  of  the 
Ottawa,  to  deem  that  the  policy  he  proposed  to  pursue  in  the  last  council 
scene  would  not  prove  altogether  without  effect  on  that  warrior.  Tt  Avas  well 
known  to  him,  much  pains  had  been  taken  to  instil  into  the  minds  of  the  In- 
dians the  belief  that  the  English  were  it'solved  on  their  final  extirpation  ;  and 


162  W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OK,     T  H  r,      1=  R  O  P  H  E  C  Y  , 

as  certain  slights,  offered  to  thorn  at  various  periods,  had  given  a  coloring  of 
truth  to  this  assertion,  the  formidable  league  which  had  alread}-  accomplished 
the  downfall  of  so  many  of  the  forts  had  been  the  consequence  of  these  artful 
representations.  Although  well  aware  that  the  French  had  numerous  emissa- 
ries distributed  among  the  fierce  tribes,  it  was  not  until  after  the  disclosure  made 
by  the  haughty  Ponteac,  at  the  close  of  the  first  council  scene,  that  he  became 
apprised  of  the  alarming  influence  exercised  over  the  mind  of  that  warrior 
himself  by  his  own  terrible  and  vindictive  enemy.  The  necessity  of  counter- 
acting that  influence  was  obvious ;  and  he  felt  this  was  only  to  be  done  (if  at 
all)  by  some  marked  and  extraordinary  evidence  of  the  peaceful  disposition 
of  the  English.  Hence  his  determination  to  suffer  the  faithless  chiefs  and 
their  followers  to  depart  unharmed  from  the  fort,  even  at  the  moment  when 
the  attitude  assumed  by  the  prepared  garrison  fully  proved  to  the  assailants 
their  designs  had  been  penetrated  and  their  schemes  rendered  abortive. 


CHAPTER  XXVni. 

"With  the  general  position  of  the  encampment  of  the  investing  Indians,  the 
reader  has  been  made  acquainted  through  the  narrative  of  Captain  de  Haldi- 
mar.  It  was,  as  has  been  shown,  situate  in  a  sort  of  oasis  close  within  the 
verge  of  the  forest,  and  (girt  by  an  intervening  underwood  which  nature,  in 
her  caprice,  had  fashioned  after  the  manner  of  a  defensive  barrier)  embraced  a 
space  sufficient  to  contain  the  tents  of  the  fighting  men,  together  with  their 
women  and  children.  This,  however,  included  the  warriors  and  inferior  chiefs. 
The  tents  of  the  leaders  were  without  the  belt  of  underwood,  and  principally 
distributed  at  long  intervals  on  that  side  of  the  forest  which  skirted  the  open 
country  towards  the  river  ;  forming  as  it  M'ere,  a  chain  of  external  defence,  and 
sweeping  in  a  semicircular  direction  round  the  more  dense  encampment  of 
their  followers.  At  its  highest  elevation  the  forest  shot  out  suddenly  into  a 
point,  naturally  enough  rendered  an  object  of  attraction  from  whatever  part  it 
was  commanded. 

Darkness  was  already  beginning  to  spread  her  mantle  over  the  intervening 
space,  and  the  night-fires  of  the  Indians  wei-o  kindling  into  brightness,  glim- 
mering occasionally  through  the  wood  with  that  pale  and  lambent  light  pecu- 
liar to  the  fire-fly,  of  which  they  offered  a  not  inapt  representation,  when  sud- 
denly a  lofty  tent,  the  brilliant  whiteness  of  which  was  thrown  into  strong  re- 
lief by*  the  dark  field  on  which  it  reposed,  was  seen  to  rise  at  a  few  paces  from 
the  abiTipt  point  in  the  forest  just  described,  and  on  the  extreme  summit  of  a 
ridge  beyond  which  lay  only  the  western  horizon  in  golden  perspective. 

The  opening  of  this  tent  looked  eastward  and  towards  the  fort ;  and  on  its 
extreme  summit  floated  a  dark  flag,  which  at  intervals  spread  itself  before  the 
slight  evening  breeze,  but  oftener  hung  drooping  and  heavily  over  the  glitter- 
ing canvass.  One  solitary  pine,  whose  trunk  exceeded  not  the  ordinary  thick- 
ness of  a  man's  waist,  and  standing  out  as  a  landmark  on  the  ridge,  rose  at 
the  distance  of  a  few  feet  from  the  spot  on  which  the  tent  had  been  erected  ; 
and  to  this  was  bound  the  tall  and  elegant  figure  of  one  dressed  in  the  coarse 
garb  of  a  sailor.  The  arms  and  legs  of  the  individual  were  perfectly  free ;  but 
a  strong  rope,  rendered  doubly  secure  after  the  manner  of  what  is  termed 
"  whipping "  among  seamen,  after  having  been  tightly  drawn  several  times 
around  his  waist,  and  then  firmly  knotted  behind,  was  again  passed  round  the 
tree,  to  which  the  back  of  the  prisoner  was  closely  lashed  ;  thus  enabling,  or 
rather  compelling,  him  to  be  a  spectator  of  every  object  within  the  tent. 

Layers  of  bark,  over  which  were  spread  the  dressed  skins  of  the  bear  and 
the  buffalo,  formed  the  floor  and  carpet  of  the  latter ;  and  on  these,  in  various 
parts,  and  in  characteristic  attitudes,  reposed  the  forms  of  three  human  beings ; 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      183 

one,  the  forinidablo  wariior  of  tlie  Fleur  de  Lis.  Attired  in  the  garb  in  which 
we  first  introduced  him  to  our  readers,  and  with  the  same  weapons  reposing 
at  his  side,  the  haughty  savage  lay  at  his  lazy  length ;  his  feet  reaching  be- 
yond the  opening  of  the  tent,  and  liis  head  reposing  on  a  rude  pillow  formed 
of  a  closely  compressed  pack  of  skins  of  wild  animals,  over  which  was  spread 
a  sort  of  mantle  or  blanket.  One  hand  was  introduced  between  the  pillow  and 
his  head,  the  other  grasped  the  pipe  tomahawk  he  was  smoking ;  and  while 
the  mechanical  play  of  his  riglit  foot  indicated  prc-occupation  of  thought,  his 
quick  and  meaning  eye  glanced  frequently  and  alternately  upon  the  furthest 
of  his  companions,  the  prisoner  without,  and  the  distant  fort. 

Within  a  few  feet  of  the  warrior  lay,  extended  on  a  buffalo  skin,  the  delicate 
figure  of  a  female,  whose  hair,  complexion,  and  hands,  denoted  her  European 
extraction.  Her  dress  was  entirely  Indian,  however ;  consisting  of  a  machecoti 
with  leggings,  moccassins,  and  shirt  of  printed  cotton  studded  with  silver 
broaches. — all  of  which  were  of  a  quality  and  texture  to  mark  the  wearer  a.^ 
the  wife  of  a  cliief ;  and  her  fair  hair,  done  up  in  a  club  behind,  reposed  on  a 
neck  of  dazzling  whiteness.  Her  eyes  were  large,  blue,  but  wild  and  unmean- 
ing;  her  countenance  vacant :  and  her  movements  altogether  mechanical.  -A 
wooden  bowl  filled  with  hominy  was  at  her  side ;  and  from  this  she  was  now 
in  the  act  of  feeding  herself  with  a  spoon  of  the  same  material,  but  with  a 
negligence  and  slovenliness,  that  betraj^ed  her  almost  utter  unconsciousness 
of  the  action. 

At  the  further  side  of  the  tent  there  was  another  woman,  even  more  delicat* 
in  appearance  than  the  one  last  mentioned.  She,  too,  was  blue  eyed,  and  of 
surpassing  fairness  of  skin.  '  Her  attitude  denoted  a  mind  too  powerfully  ab- 
sorbed in  grief  to  be  heedful  of  appearances ;  for  she  sat  with  her  knees  dra^vn 
up  to  her  chin,  and  rocking  her  body  to  and  fro  with  an  undulating  motion 
that  seemed  to  have  its  origin  in  no  effort  of  volition  of  her  own.  Her  long 
fair  hair  hung  negligently  over  her  shoulders ;  and  a  blanket  drawn  over  the 
top  of  her  head  like  a  veil,  and  extending  partly  over  the  person,  disclosed  here 
and  there  portions  of  an  apparel  which  was  strictly  European,  although  rent, 
and  exhibiting  in  various  places  stains  of  blood.  A  bowl  similar  to  that  of  her 
companion,  and  filled  with  the  same  food,  was  at  her  side  ;  but  this  was  un- 
tasted. 

"  Why  does  the  girl  refuse  to  eat  ?"  asked  the  warrior  of  her  next  him,  as 
he  fiercely  rolled  a  volume  of  smoke  from  his  lips.  "  Make  her  eat,  for  I 
would  speak  to  her  afterwards." 

••  Why  does  the  girl  refuse  to  eat  ?"  responded  the  woman  in  the  same  tone, 
dropping  her  spoon  as  she  spoke,  and  turning  to  the  object  of  remark  with  a 
vacant  look,  '•  It  is  good,"  she  pursued,  as  she  rudely  shook  the  arm  of  the 
heedless  sufferer.     '"  Come,  girl,  eat." 

A  shriek  burst  from  the  lips  of  the  unhappy  girl,  as,  apparently  roused  from 
her  abstraction,  she  suffered  the  blanket  to  fiill  from  her  head,  and  staring 
wildly  at  her  questioner,  faintly  demanded, — "  Who,  in  the  name  of  mercy, 
are  you.  who  address  me  in  this  horrid  place  in  ray  own  tongue  ?  Speak ; 
who"  are  you  ?  Surely  I  should  know  that  voice  for  that  of  Ellen,  the  wife  of 
Frank  Halloway !" 

A  maniac  laugh  was  uttered  by  the  wretched  woman.  This  continued  of- 
fensively for  a  moment ;  and  she  observed,  in  an  infuriated  tone  and  with  a 
searching  eye, — '■  No.  I  am  not  the  wife  of  Halloway.  It  is  false.  I  am  the 
wife  of  Wacousta.  This  is  my  hu.sband !"  and  as  .she  spoke  she  .sprang  nim- 
bly to  her  feet,  and  was  in  the'ncxt  instant  lying  prostrate  on  the  form  of  the 
warrior  ;  her  arms  thrown  wildly  around  him,  and  her  lips  imprinting  kisses 
on  his  cheek. 

But  AVacousta  was  in  no  mood  to  suffer  her  endearments.  He  for  the  first 
time  seemed  alive  to  the  presence  of  her  who  lay  beyond,  and  to  whose  whole 
appearance  a  character  of  animation  had  been  imparted  by  the  temporary  ex- 
citement of  her  feelings.     He  gazed  at  her  a  moment,  with  the  air  of  one  en- 


184  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy, 

deavoring  to  recall  the  memory  of  days  long  gone  by ;  and  as  he  continued  to 
do  so,  his  eye  dilated,  his  chest  heaved,  and  his  countenance  alternately  flushed 
and  paled.  At  length  he  threw  the  form  that  reposed  upon  his  own,  violently, 
and  even  savagely,  from  him ;  sprang  eagerly  to  his  feet ;  and  clearing  the 
space  that  divided  him  from  the  object  of  his  attention  at  a  single  step,  bore- 
her  from  the  earth  in  his  arms  with  as  much  ease  as  if  she  had  been  an  infant, 
and  then  returning  to  his  own  rude  couch,  placed  his  horror-stricken  victim  at 
his  side. 

'•Nay,  nay."  he  urged  sarcastically,  as  she  vainly  struggled  to  free  herself; 
"  let  the  De  Haldimar  portion  of  your  blood  rise  up  in  anger  if  it  will ;  but 
that  of  Clara  Eeverlej^,  at  least " 

"  Grracious  Providence  !  where  am  I,  that  I  hear  the  name  of  my  sainted 
mother  thus  familiarly  pronounced  ?"  interrupted  the  startled  girl ;  "  and  who 
are  you, — ,"  turning  her  eyes  wildly  on  the  swarthy  countenance  of  the  war- 
rior,— "  who  are  you,  I  ask,  who,  with  the  mien  and  in  the  garb  of  a  savage 
of  these  forests,  appear  thus  acquainted  with  her  name  ?" 

The  warrior  passed  his  hand  across  his  brow  for  a  moment,  as  if  some 
painful  and  intolerable  reflection  had  been  called  up  by  the  question ;  but 
he  speedily  recovered  his  self-possession,  and  with  an  expression  of  feature 
that  almost  petrified  his  auditor,  vehemently  observed, — 

"  You  ask  v.'ho  I  am  !  One  who  knew  your  mother  long  before  the  ac- 
cursed name  of  Dc  Haldimar  had  ever  been  whispered  in  her  ear  ;  and  whom 
love  for  the  one  and  hatred  for  the  other  has  rendered  the  savage  you  now 
behold  !  But,"  he  continued,  while  a  fierce  and  hideous  smile  lighted  up 
every  feature,  "  I  overlook  my  past  sufferings  in  my  present  happiness.  Th& 
image  of  Clara  Beverley,  even  such  as  my  soul  loved  her  in  its  youth,  is  once- 
more  before  me  in  her  child  ;  that  child  shall  be  my  wife  !" 

"  Your  wife  !  monster ;  never  !"  shrieked  the  unhappy  girl,  vainly  attempt- 
ing to  disengage  herself  from  the  encircling  arm  of  the  savage.  "  But,"  she 
pursued,  in  a  tone  of  supplication,  while  the  tears  coursed  each  other  down 
her  cheek,  "  if  you  ever  loved  my  mother,  as  you  say  you  have,  restore  her 
children  to  their  home ;  and  if  saints  may  be  permitted  to  look  down  from 
heaven  in  approval  of  the  acts  of  men,  she  whom  you  have  loved  will  bless 
you  for  the  deed." 

A  deep  groan  burst  from  the  vast  chest  of  Wacousta  ;  but,  for  a  moment, 
he  answered  not.  At  length  he  observed,  pointing  at  the  same  time  with  his 
finger  towards  the  cloudless  vault  above  their  heads, — "  Do  you  behold  yon 
bine  sky,  Clara  de  Haldimar  V 

"  I  do  ; — what  mean  you  ?"  demanded  the  trembling  girl,  in  whom  a  mo- 
mentary hope  had  been  excited  by  the  subdued  manner  of  the  savage. 

"  Nothing,"  he  coolly  rejoined ;  "  only  that  were  your  poor  mother  to 
appear  there  at  this  moment,  clad  in  all  the  attributes  ascribed  to  angels,  her 
prayer  would  not  alter  the  destiny  that  awaits  you.  Nay,  nay ;  look  not 
thus  sorrowfully,"  he  pursued,  as  in  despite  of  her  efforts  to  prevent  him,  he 
imprinted  a  burning  kiss  iipon  her  lips.  "  Even  thus  was  I  once  wont  to  lin- 
ger on  the  lips  of  your  mother  ;  but  hers  ever  pouted  to  be  pressed  by  mine ; 
and  not  with  tears,  but  with  sunniest  smiles  did  she  court  them."  He  paused  ; 
bent  his  head  over  the  face  of  the  shuddering  girl ;  and  gazing  fixedly  for  a 
few  minutes  on  her  countenance,  while  he  pi'essed  her  struggling  form  more 
closely  to  his  own,  exultingly  pursued,  as  if  to  himself, — "  Even  as  her  mother 
was,  so  is  she.  Ye  powers  of  hell !  who  would  have  ever  thought  a  time 
would  come  when  both  my  vengeance  and  my  love  would  be  gratified  to 
the  utmost  1  How  strange  it  never  should  have  occurred  to  me  he  had  a 
daughter !" 

"  What  mean  you,  fierce,  unpitying  man  ?"  exclaimed  the  terrified  Clara, 
to  whom  a  full  sense  of  the  horror  of  her  position  had  lent  unusual  energy 
of  character.     "  Surely  you  will  not  detain  a  poor  defenceless  woman  in  your 


wacousta;    or,    the    propiiecy.  185 

hands, — the  child  of  her  you  say  you  have  loved.  But  it  is  false  ! — you  never 
knew  her,  or  you  would  not  reject  my  prayer." 

"  Never  knew  her !"  fiercely  repeated  Wacousta.  Again  ho  paused. 
"  Would  I  had  never  known  her  !  and  I  should  not  now  be  the  outcast  wretch 
T  am," — he  added,  slowly  and  impressively.  Then  once  more  elevating  his 
voice, — "  Clara  de  Ilaldimar,  1  have  loved  your  mother  as  man  never  loved 
woman  ;  and  I  have  hated  your  father  (grinding  his  teeth  with  fury  as  he 
spoke)  as  man  never  hated  man.  That  love,  that  hatred  are  unqucnched 
— unquenchable.  Before  me  I  see  at  once  the  image  of  her  who,  even  in 
death,  has  lived  enshrined  in  my  heart,  and  the  child  of  him  who  is  my  bit- 
terest foe.     Clara  de  Ilaldimar,  do  you  understand  me  now  ?" 

"  Almighty  Providence  !  is  there  not  one  to  save  me  ? — can  nothing  touch 
your  stubborn  heart  V  exclaimed  the  affrighted  girl ;  and  she  turned  her 
swimming  eyes  on  those  of  the  warrior,  in  appeal ;  but  his  glance  caused  her 
o\vn  to  sinkin  confusion.  "  Ellen  Ilalloway,"  she  pursued,  after  a  moment's 
pause,  and  in  the  wild  accents  of  despair,  "  if  you  are  indeed  the  wife  of  this 
man,  as  you  say  you  are,  oh  !  plead  for  me  with  him  ;  and  in  the  name  of 
that  kindness  which  I  once  extended  to  yourself,  prevail  on  him  to  restore  me 
to  my  father  !" 

"  Ellen  Halloway  ! — who  calls  Ellen  Halloway  ?"  said  the  wretched  woman, 
who  had  again  resumed  her  slovenly  meal  on  the  rude  couch,  apparently 
without  consciousness  of  the  scene  enacting  at  her  side.  "  I  am  not  Ellen 
Ilalloway :  they  said  so ;  but  it  is  not  true.  My  husband  was  Reginald 
Morton :  but  he  went  for  a  soldier,  and  was  killed ;  and  I  never  saw  him 
more." 

"  Reginald  Morton  !  What  mean  you,  woman  ?  What  knoAV  you  of 
Reginald  Morton  V  demanded  Wacousta,  with  frightful  energy,  as,  leaning 
over  the  shrinking  form  of  Clara,  he  violently  grasped  and  shook  the  shoulder 
of  the  unhappy  maniac. 

"  Stop  ;  do  not  hurt  me,  and  I  will  tell  you  all,  sir,"  she  almost  screamed, 
"  Oh,  sir,  Reginald  Morton  was  my  husband  once  ;  but  he  was  kinder  than 
you  are.     He  did  not  look  so  fiercely  at  me  ;  nor  did  he  pinch  me  so." 

'•  What  of  him  ? — who  was  he  ?"  furiously  repeated  Wacousta,  as  he  again 
impatiently  shook  the  arm  of  the  wretched  Ellen.  "  Where  did  you  know 
him  ?     Whence  came  he  V 

"  Nay,  you  must  not  be  jealous  of  poor  Reginald  :"  and,  as  she  uttered 
these  words  in  a  softening  and  conciliating  tone,  her  eye  was  turned  tipon 
those  of  the  warrior  with  a  mingled  expression  of  fear  and  cunning.  "  But 
he  was  very  good  and  very  handsome,  and  generous  ;  and  we  lived  hear 
each  other,  and  we  loved  each  other  at  first  sight.  But  his  family  were 
very  proud,  and  they  quarrelled  with  him  because  he  married  me  ;  and  then 

we  became  very  poor,  and  Reginald  went  for  a  soldier,  and ;  but  I  forget 

the  rest,  it  is  so  long  ago."  She  pressed  her  hand  to  her  brow,  and  sank  her 
head  upon  her  chest. 

"  Ellen,  woman,  again  I  ask  you  where  he  came  from  ?  this  Reginald  Mor- 
ton that  you  have  named.     To  what  country  did  he  belong  ?" 

"  Oh,  we  were  both  Cornish,"  she  answered,  with  a  vivacity  singularly  in 
contrast  with  her  recent  low  and  monotonous  tone  ;  "  but,  as  I  said  before,  he 
was  of  a  great  family,  and  I  only  a  poor  clergj'man's  daughter." 

'•  Cornish  ! Cornish,  did  you  say  V  fiercely  repeated  the  dark  Wacousta, 

while  an  expression  of  loathing  and  disgust  seemed  for  a  moment  to  convulse 
his  features  ;  "  then  is  it  as  I  had  feared.  One  word  more.  Was  the  family 
seat  called  Jlorton  Castle  V 

"  It  was,"  unhesitatingly  returned  the  poor  woman,  yet  with  the  air  of  one 
wondering  to  hear  a  name  repeated,  long  forgotten  even  by  herself  "  It  was 
a  beautiful  castle  too,  on  a  lovely  ridge  of  hills ;  and  it  commanded  such  a 

nice  view  of  the  sea,  close  to  the  little  port  of ;  and  the  parsonage  stood 

in  such  a  sweet  valley,  close  under  the  castle ;  and  we  were  all  so  happy."    She 


186  W  A  C  O  IT  S  T  A  ;       OR,      THE       P  P.  O  P  M  E  C  V  . 

paused,  again  put  her  hand  to  her  brow,  and  pressed  it  with  force,  as  if  en- 
deavoring to  pursue  the  chain  of  connection  in  her  memory,  but  evidently 
without  success. 

"  And  your  father's  name  was  Clayton  ?"  said  the  warrior  enquiringly. 
"  Henr}^  Clayton,  if  I  recollect  aright  1" 

"Ha!  who  names  my  father?"  shrieked  the  wretched  woman,  "Yes,  sir, 
it  was  Clayton — Henry  Clayton — the  kindest,  the  noblest  of  human  beings. 
But  the  affliction  of  his  child,  and  the  persecutions  of  the  Morton  family, 
Ijroke  his  heart.  He  is  dead,  sir,  and  Reginald  is  dead  too ;  and  I  am  a  poor 
lone  widow  in  the  world,  and  have  no  one  to  love  me."  Here  the  tears  cours- 
ed each  other  rapidly  down  her  faded  cheeks,  although  her  eyes  were  staring 
and  motionless. 

"  It  is  false  !"  vociferated  the  warrior,  who,  now  he  had  gained  all  that  was 
essential  to  the  elucidation  of  his  doubts,  quitted  the  shoulder  he  had  con- 
tinued to  press  with  violence  in  his  nervous  hand,  and  once  more  extended 
hmiself  at  his  length  ;  "  in  me  you  behold  the  uncle  of  your  husband.  Yes, 
Ellen  Clayton,  you  have  been  the  wife  of  two  Pieginald  JNIortons.  Both,"  he 
pursued  with  unutterable  bitterness,  while  he  again  started  up  and  shook  his 
tomahawk  menacingl}^  in  the  direction  of  the  fort, — "  both  have  been  the  vic- 
tims of  yon  cold-blooded  governor ;  but  the  hour  of  reckoning  is  at  hand. 
Ellen,"  he  fiercely  added,  '^  do  you  recollect  the  curse  you  pronounced  on  the 
family  of  that  haughty  man,  when  he  slaughtered  your  Reginald?  By 
Heaven !  it  shall  be  fulfilled  ;  but  first  shall  the  love  I  have  so  long  borne  the 
mother  be  transferred  to  the  child." 

Again  he  sovight  to  encircle  the  waist  of  her  whom,  in  the  strong  excite- 
ment of  his  rage,  he  had  momentarily  quitted;  but  the  unutterable  disgust 
and  horror  produced  in  the  mind  of  the  unhappy  Clara  lent  an  almost  super- 
natural activity  to  her  despair.  She  dexterously  eluded  his  grasp,  gained  her 
feet,  and  with  tottering  stcjis  and  outstretched  arms  darted  through  the  tent, 
and  piteousl}^  exclaiming.  '■  Save  me  !  oh,  fur  God's  sake,  save  me  !"  sank  ex- 
hausted, and  apparently  lifeless,  on  the  chest  of  the  prisoner  without. 

To  such  of  our  readers  as,  deceived  by  the  romantic  nature  of  the  attax::h- 
incnt  stated  to  have  been  originally  entertained  by  Sir  Everard  Valletort  for 
the  unseen  sister  of  his  friend,  have  been  led  to  expect  a  tale  abounding  in 
manifestations  of  its  progress  when  the  parties  had  actually  met.  we  at  once 
announce  disappointment.  Ncithci-  the  lover  of  amorous  adventure,  nor  the 
admirer  of  witty  dialo;.;ue,  sla)uid  dive  into  these  passages.  Room  for  the  ex- 
ercise of  the  invention  miglit,  it  is  true,  be  found;  but  ours  is  a  tale  of  sad  re- 
ality, and  our  heroes  and  lieroines  figure  under  circumstances  that  wculd  ren- 
der wit  a  satire  upon  the  understanding,  and  love  a  reflection  upon  the  heart. 
Within  the  bounds  of  probability  have  we,  therefore,  confined  ourselves. 

What  the  feehngs  of  the  youngbaronet  must  have  been, from  the  first  moment 
when  he  received  fiom  the  hands  of  the  unfortunate  Captain  Baynton,  (who, 
although  an  oflicer  of  his  own  corps,  was  personally  a  stranger  to  him.)  that 
cherished  sister  of  his  friend,  on  whose  ideal  form  his  excited  imagination  had 
so  often  latterly  loved  to  linger,  up  to  the  present  hour,  v/e  should  vainly  at- 
tempt to  paint.  There  are  emotions  of  the  heart,  it  would  be  mockery  in  the 
pen  to  trace.  From  the  instant  of  his  first  contributing  to  preserve  her  life, 
on  that  dreadful  day  of  blood,  to  that  when  the  schooner  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  savages,  few  words  had  passed  between  them,  and  these  had  reference 
merely  to  the  position  in  which  they  found  themselves,  and  whenever  Sir  Eve- 
rard felt  he  could,  without  indelicac_v  or  intrusion,  render  himself  in  the  slight- 
est way  serviceable  to  her.  The  very  circumstances  under  which  they  had 
met,  conduced  to  the  suppres.sion,  if  not  utter  extinction,  of  all  passion  attach- 
ed to  the  sentiment  with  which  he  had  been  inspired.  A  new  feeling  had 
quickened  in  his  breast ;  and  it  was  with  emotions  more  assimilated  to  friend- 
ship than  to  love  that  he  now  regarded  the  beautiful  but  sorrow-stricken  sis- 
ter of  his  bosom  friend.     Still  there  was  a  softness,  a  purity,  a  dehcacy  and 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      187 

tenderness  in  this  new  feeling,  in  whicli  the  influence  of  sex  secretly  though 
unacknowledgcdly  predominated ;  and  even  while  sensible  it  would  liavc  been 
a  profanation  of  everything  most  sacred  and  delicate  in  nature  to  have  admit- 
ted a  thought  of  love  within  his  breast  at  such  a  moment,  he  also  felt  he 
could  have  entertained  a  voluptuous  joy  in  making  any  sacrifice,  even  to  the 
surrender  of  life  itself,  provided  the  tranquillity  of  that  gentle  and  suffering 
being  could  be  by  it  ensm-ed. 

Clara,  in  her  turn,  had  been  in  no  condition  to  admit  so  exclusive  a  power 
as  that  of  love  within  her  soul.  She  had,  it  is  true,  even  amid  the  desolation 
of  her  shattered  spirit,  recognised  in  the  young  ofhcer  the  original  of  a  por- 
trait so  frequently  drawn  by  her  brother,  and  dwelt  on  by  herself.  She  ac- 
knowledged, moreover,  the  'fidelity  of  the  painting :  but  however  she  might 
have  felt  and  acted  under  different  circumstances,  absorbed  as  was  her  heart, 
and  paral3'sed  her  imagination,  by  the  harrowing  scenes  she  had  gone  through, 
she,  too,  had  room  but  for  one  sentiment  in  her  fainting  soul,  and  that  was 
friendship  for  the  friend  of  her  brother ;  on  whom,  moreover,  she  bestowed 
that  woman's  gi-atitude,  which  could  not  fail  to  be  awakened  by  a  recollection 
of  the  risks  he  had  encountered,  conjointly  with  Frederick,  to  save  her  from 
destruction.  During  their  passage  across  the  Huron.  Sir  Kverard  had  usually 
taken  his  seat  on  the  deck,  at  that  respectful  distance  vvliich  he  conceived  the 
delicacy  of  the  position  of  the  unfortunate  cousins  demanded  ;  but  in  such  a 
manner  that,  while  he  seemed  wholly  abstracted  fi'om  them,  his  eye  had  more 
than  once  been  detected  by  Clara  fixed  on  hers,  with  an  affectionateness  of 
interest  she  could  not  avoid  repajdng  with  a  glance  of  recognition  and  approval. 
These,  however,  were  the  only  indications  of  regard  that  had  passed  between 
them. 

If,  however,  a  momentary  and  irrepressible  flashing  of  that  sentiment, 
which  had,  at  an  earlier  period,  formed  a  portion  of  their  imaginings,  did  oc- 
casionally steal  over  their  hearts  while  there  was  a  prospect  of  reaching  their 
friends  in  safety,  all  manifestation  of  its  power  was  again  finally  suppressed 
when  the  schooner  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  savages.  Become  the  immediate 
prisoners  of  Wacousta,  they  had  been  surrendered  to  that  ferocious  chief  to 
be  dealt  with  as  he  might  tliink  proper ;  and  on  disembarking  from  the  canoe 
.  in  which  their  transit  to  the  mainland  had  been  descried  that  morning  from 
the  fort,  had  been  separated  from  their  equally  unfortunate  and  suffering 
companions.  Captain  de  Haldimar,  Madeline,  and  the  Canadian,  were  de- 
livered over  to  the  custody  of  several  choice  warriors  of  the  tribe  in  which 
Wacousta  was  adopted  ;  and,  bound,  hand  and  foot,  were  at  that  moment  in 
the  walr-tent  of  the  fierce  savage,  which,  as  Ponteac  had  once  boasted  to  the 
governor,  was  everj^where  hung  around  with  human  scalps,  both  of  men,  of 
women,  and  of  children.  The  object  of  this  mysterious  man,  in  removing 
Clara  to  the  spot  we  have  described,  was  one  well  worthy  of  his  ferocious  na- 
ture. His  vengeance  had  already  devoted  her  to  destruction  ;  and  it  was 
within  view  of  the  fort,  which  contained  the  father  whom  he  loathed,  he  had 
resolved  his  purpose  should  be  accomplished.  A  refinement  of  cruelty,  such 
as  could  scarcely  have  been  supposed  to  enter  the  breast  even  of  such  a  re- 
morseless savage  as  himself,  had  caused  him  to  convey  to  the  same  spot,  him 
whom  he  rather  suspected  than  knew  to  be  the  lover  of  the  young  girl.  It 
was  with  the  view  of  harrowing  up  the  .soul  of  one  whom  he  had  recognised 
as  the  officer  who  had  disabled  him  on  the  night  of  the  rencontre  on  the  bridge, 
that  he  had  bound  Sir  Everard  to  the  tree,  whence,  as  we  have  already  stated, 
he  vras  a  compelled  spectator  of  everything  that  passed  within  the  tent ;  and 
yet  with  that  free  action  of  hmb  which  only  tended  to  tantalize  him  the  more 
amid  his  unavoidable  efforts  to  rid  himself  of  his  bonds. — ^^a  fact  that  proved 
not  only  the  dire  extent  to  wliich  the  i-evenge  of  Wacousta  could  be  carried, 
but  the  actu.ll  and  gratuitous  cruelty  of  his  nature. 

One  must  have  been  similarly  circura.stanced  to  understand  all  the  agony 
of  the  youu;:-  man  d*ring  this  odious  scone,  and  particularly  at  the  fierce  and 


188      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

repeated  declarations  of  the  savage  that  Clara  should  be  his  bride.  More 
than  once  had  he  essayed  to  remove  the  ligatures  which  confined  his  waist ; 
but  his  unsuccessful  attempts  only  drew  an  occa'onal  smile  of  derision  from 
his  enemy,  as  he  glanced  his  eye  rapidly  towards  him.  Conscious  at  length 
of  the  inutility  of  efforts,  which,  without  benefiting  her  for  whom  they  were 
principally  prompted,  rendered  him  in  some  degree  ridiculous  even  in  his  own 
eyes,  the  wretched  Valletort  desisted  altogether,  and  with  his  head  simk  upon 
his  chest,  and  his  eyes  closed,  sought  at  least  to  shut  out  a  scene  which  blasted 
his  sight,  and  harrowed  up  his  very  soul. 

But  when  Clara,  uttering  her  wild  cry  for  protection,  and  rushing  forth  from 
the  tent,  sank  almost  unconsciously  in  his  embrace,  a  thrill  of  inexplicable 
joy  ran  through  each  awakened  fibre  of  his  frame.  Bending  eagerly  for- 
ward, he  had  extended  his  arms  to  receive  her ;  and  when  he  felt  her  light 
and  graceful  form  pressing  upon  his  own  as  its  last  refuge — when  he  felt  her 
heart  beating  against  his — when  he  saw  her  drooping  on  his  shoulder,  in  the 
wild  recklessness  of  despair, — even  amid  that  scene  of  desolation  and  grief  he 
could  not  help  enfolding  her  in  tumultuous  ecstasy  to  his  breast.  Every  hor- 
rible danger  was  for  an  instant  forgotten  in  the  soothing  consciousness  that 
he  at  length  encircled  the  form  of  her,  whom  in  many  an  hour  of  solitude  he 
had  thus  pictured,  although  «nder  far  different  circumstances,  reposing  con- 
fidingly on  him.  There  was  delight  mingled  with  agony  in  his  sensation  of  the 
wild  throb  of  her  bosom  against  his  own ;  and  even  while  his  soul  fainted 
within  him,  as  he  reflected  on  the  fate  that  awaited  her,  he  felt  as  if  he  could 
himself  now  die  more  happily. 

Momentarj^,  however,  was  the  duration  of  this  scene.  Furious  with  anger 
at  the  evident  disgust  of  his  victim,  Wacousta  no  sooner  saw  her  sink  into 
the  arms  of  her  lover,  than  with  that  agility  for  Mdiich  he  was  remarkable, 
he  was  again  on  his  feet,  and  stood  in  the  next  instant  at  her  side.  Uniting 
to  the  generous  strength  of  his  manhood  all  that  was  wrung  from  his  mingled 
love  and  despair,  the  officer  clasped  his  hand  round  the  waist  of  the  drooping 
Clara ;  and  with  clenched  teeth,  and  feet  firmly  set,  seemed  resolved  to  defy 
every  effort  of  the  warrior  to  remove  her.  Not  a  word  was  uttered  on  either 
side ;  but  in  the  fierce  smile  that  curled  the  lip  of  the  savage,  there  spoke  a 
language  even  more  terrible  than  the  words  that  smile  implied.  Sir  Everard 
could  not  suppress  an  involuntary  shudder  ;  and  when  at  length  Wacousta, ' 
after  a  short  but  violent  struggle,  succeeded  in  again  securing  and  bearing  off 
his  prize,  the  wretchedness  of  soul  of  the  former  was  indescribable. 

"  You  see  'tis  vain  to  struggle  against  your  destiny,  Clara  de  Haldimar," 
sneered  the  warrior  "  Ours  is  but  a  rude  nuptial  couch,  it  is  true  ;  but  the 
wife  of  an  Indian  chief  must  not  expect  the  luxuries  of  Europe  in  the  heart 
of  an  American  wilderness." 

"  Almighty  Heaven  !  where  am  I  ?"  exclaimed  the  wretched  girl,  again  un- 
closing her  eyes  to  all  the  horror  of  her  position ;  for  again  she  lay  at  the 
side,  and  within  the  encircling  arm,  of  her  enemy.  "  Oh,  Sir  Everard  Valle- 
tort, I  thought  I  was  with  you,  and  that  j^ou  had  saved  me  from  this  monster. 
Where  is  my  brother  ? — Where  are  Frederick  and  Madeline  ? — Why  have  they 
deserted  me  ? — Ah  !  my  heart  will  break.  I  cannot  endure  this  longer,  and  live." 

"  Clara,  Miss  de  Haldimar,"  groaned  Sir  Everard,  in  a  voice  of  searching 
agony ;  "  could  I  lay  down  my  life  for  you,  I  would ;  but  you  see  these 
bonds.  Oh  God  !  oh  God  !  have  pity  on  the  innocent ;  and  for  once  inchne 
the  heart  of  yon  fierce  monster  to  the  whisperings  of  mercy."  As  he  uttered 
the  last  sentence,  he  attempted  to  sink  on  his  knees  in  supplication  to  Him  he 
addressed,  but  the  tension  of  the  cord  prevented  him ;  yet  were  his  hands 
clasped,  and  his  eyes  upraised  to  heaven,  while  his  countenance  beamed  with 
an  expression  of  fervent  enthusiasm. 

"  Peace,  babbler  !  or,  by  Heaven  !  that  prayer  shall  be  your  last,"  vocife- 
rated Wacousta.  "  But  no,"  he  pursued  to  himself,  dropping  at  the  same 
time  the  point  of  his  tomahawk ;  "  these  are  but  the  uatunil  writhings  of  the 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      isy 

crushed  worm  ;  and  tlie  longer  protracted  they  are,  the  more  complete  will  be 
my  vengeance."  Then  turning  to  the  terrified  girl, — "  You  ask,  Clara  de  Ilal- 
dimar.  where  j-ou  are  ?  In  the  tent  of  your  mother's  lover,  I  reply, — at  the 
side  of  hiui  who  once  pressed  her  to  his  heart,  even  as  I  now  press  you,  and 
with  a  fondness  that  was  only  equalled  by  her  own.  "  Come,  dear  Clara," 
and  his  voice  assumed  a  tone  of  tenderness  that  was  even  more  revolting  than 
his  natural  ferocity,  "  let  me  woo  you  to  the  affection  she  once  possessed.  It 
was  a  heart  of  fire  in  wliich  her  image  stood  enshrined, — it  is  a  heart  of  fire 
still,  and  well  worthy  of  her  child." 

"  Never,  never  !"  shrieked  the  agonised  girl.  '■'Kill  me.  murder  me,  if  you 
will ;  but  oh  !  if  you  have  pity,  pollute  not  my  ear  with  the  avowal  of  your 
detested  love.  But  again  I  repeat,  it  is  false  that  m}'  mother  ever  knew  you. 
She  never  could  have  loved  so  fierce,  so  vindictive  a  being  as  yourself." 

'•  Ha!  do  you  doubt  me  still  ?"  sternly  demanded  the  savage.  Then  draw- 
ing the  shuddering  girl  still  closer  to  his  vast  chest, — "  Come  hither,  Clara, 
while  to  convince  j'ou  I  unfold  the  sad  history  of  my  life,  and  tell  3-ou  more 
of  your  parents  than  you  have  ever  known.  When,"  he  pursued  solemnly 
"  you  have  learnt  the  extent  of  my  love  for  the  one,  and  my  hatred  for  the 
other,  and  the  wrongs  I  have  endured  from  both,  you  will  no  longer  wonder 
at  the  spirit  of  mingled  love  and  vengeance  that  dictates  my  conduct  towards 
yourself  Listen,  girl,"  he  continued  fiercely,  "  and  judge  whether  mine  are 
injuries  to  be  tamely  pardoned,  when  a  whole  life  has  been  devoted  to  the 
pursuit  of  the  means  of  avenging  them." 

Irresistibly  led  by  a  desire  to  know  what  possible  connection  could  have 
existed  between  her  parents  and  this  singular  and  ferocious  man,  the  wretched 
girl  gave  her  passive  assent.  She  even  hoped  that,  in  the  course  of  his  nar- 
rative, some  softening  reflections  would  pass  over  his  mind,  the  effect  of  which 
might  be  to  predispose  him  to  mercy.  Wacousta  buried  his  face  for  a  few 
moments  in  his  large  hand,  as  if  endeavoring  to  collect  and  concentrate  the 
remembrances  of  past  years.  His  countenance,  meanwhile,  had  undergone  a 
change  ;  for  there  was  now  a  shade  of  melancholy  mixed  with  the  fierceness 
of  expression  usually  observable  there.  This,  however,  was  dispelled  in  the 
course  of  his  narrative,  and  as  various  opposite  passions  were  in  turn  power- 
fiilly  and  severally  developed. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

"  It  is  now  four  and  twenty  years,"  commenced  Wacousta,  "  since  your  father 
and  myself  first  met  as  subalterns  in  the  regiment  he  now  commands,  when 
an  intimac)-  suddenly  sprang  up  between  us,  which,  as  it  was  then  to  our 
brother  officers,  has  since  been  a  source  of  utter  astonishment  to  myself.  He, 
all  coldness,  prudence,  obsequiousness,  and  forethought.  I,  all  enthusiasm, 
carelessness,  impetuosit}-.  and  independence.  Whether  this  intimancy  sprang 
from  the  adventitious  circumstance  of  our  being  more  frequentl}-  thrown  to- 
gether as  officers  of  the  same  companj', — for  we  were  both  attached  to  the 
grenadiers. — or  that  my  wild  spirit  was  soothed  by  the  bland  amenity  of  his 
manners,  I  know  not.  The  latter,  however,  is  not  improbable  ;  for  proud  and 
haughtj'-  and  dignified,  as  the  colonel  no\c  is,  such  was  not  then  the  character 
of  the  ensign ;  who  seemed  thrown  out  of  one  of  nature's  supplest  moulds, 
to  fawn,  and  cringe,  and  worm  his  way  to  flivor  b}-  tjie  wily  speciousness  of 
his  manners.  Oh  God  !"  pursued  Wacousta,  after  a  momentary  pause,  and 
striking  his  palm  again>t  his  forehead.  "  that  I  ever  should  have  been  the  dupe 
of  such  a  cold-blooded  hypocrite  ! 

"  As  you  have  just  learnt,  Coi'nwall  is  the  country  of  my  birth.  I  was  the 
eldest  of  the  only  two  surviving  children  of  a  large  family  ;  and,  as  heir  to 


190  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

the  baronetcy  of  the  proud  Mortons,  was  looked  up  to  hj  lord  and  vassal  as 
the  future  perpetuator  of  the  family  name.  My  brother  had  been  designed 
for  the  army  ;  but  as  this  was  a  profession  to  which  I  had  attached  my  incli- 
nations, the  point  was  waived  in  my  favor,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  I  first 

joined  the  regiment,  then  quartered  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland. 

During  my  boyhood  I  had  ever  accustomed  myself  to  athletic  exercises,  and 
loved  to  excite  myself  by  encountering  danger  in  its  most  terrific  forms. 

"  The  wild  daring  by  which  my  boyhood  had  been  marked  was  powerfully 
awakened  by  the  bold  and  romantic  scenery  of  the  Scottish  Highlands  ;  and 
as  the  regiment  was  at  that  time  quartered,  in  a  part  of  those  'mountainous 
districts,  where,  from  the  disturbed  nature  of  the  times,  society  was  difficult 
of  attainment,  many  of  the  officers  were  driven  from  necessity,  afe  I  was  from 
choice,  to  indulge  in  the  sports  of  the  chase.  On  one  occasion  a  party  of  four 
of  us  set  out  early  in  the  morning  in  pursuit  of  deer,  numbers  of  which  we 
knew  were  to  be  met  with  in  the  mountainous  tracts  of  Bute  and  Argyleshire. 
The  course  we  happened  to  take  lay  through  a  succession  of  deep  dark  glens, 
and  over  frowning  rocks  ;  the  diificulties  of  access  to  which  only  stirred  up 
my  dormant  spirit  of  enterprise  the  more.  We  had  continued  in  this  course 
for  many  hours,  overcoming  one  difficulty  only  to  be  encountered  by  another, 
and  yet  without  meeting  a  single  deer  ;  when,  at  length,  the  faint  blast  of  a 
horn  was  heard  far  above  our  heads  in  the  distance,  and  presently  a  noble  stag 
was  seen  to  ascend  a  ledge  of  rocks  immediately  in  front  of  us.  To  raise  my 
gun  to  my  shoulder  and  fire  was  the  work  of  a  moment,  after  which  we  all 
followed  in  pm-suit.  On  reaching  the  spot  where  the  deer  had  first  been  seen, 
we  observed  traces  of  blood,  satisfying  us  he  had  been  wounded  ;  but  the  course 
taken  in  his  flight  was  one  that  seemed  to  defy  every  human  effort  to  follow 
in.  It  was  a  narrow  pointed  ledge,  ascending  boldly  towards  a  huge  cliff 
that  projected  frowningiy  from  the  extreme  summit,  and  on  either  side  lay  a 
dark,  deep,  and  apparently  fathomless  ravine ;  to  look  even  on  which  was  suf- 
ficient to  appal  the  stoutest  heart,  and  unnerve  the  steadiest  brain.  For  me, 
however,  long  accustomed  to  dangers  of  the  sort,  it  had  no  terror.  I  had 
proceeded  about  five  hundred  yards  further,  when  I  came  to  the  termination 
of  the  ledge,  from  the  equally  narrow  transverse  extremity  of  which  branch- 
ed out  three  others  ;  the  whole  contributing  to  form  a  figure  resembling  that 
of  a  trident.  Along  the  ledge  I  had  quitted  I  had  remarked  occasional  traces 
where  the  stricken  deer  had  passed  ;  and  the  same  blood-spots  now  directed 
me  at  a  point  where,  but  for  these,  I  must  have  been  utterly  at  fault.  The 
centre  of  these  new  ridges,  and  the  narrowest,  was  that  taken  by  the  animal, 
and  on  that  I  once  more  renewed  my  pursuit.  I  continued  my  course  towards 
the  main  body  of  rock  that  now  rose  within  a  hundred  yards.  How  this 
was  to  be  gained  I  knew  not  ;  for  it  shelved  out  abruptly  from  the  extreme 
summit,  overhanging  the  abyss,  and  presenting  an  appearance  which  I  cannot 
more  properly  render  than  by  comparing  it  to  the  sounding  boards  placed 
over  the  pulpits  of  our  English  churches.  Still  I  was  resolved  to  persevere 
to  the  close,  and  I  but  too  unhappily  succeeded. 

"  It  was  evident  to  me  that  there  must  be  some  opening  through  which  the 
deer  had  effected  his  escape  to  the  precipitous  heights  above ;  and  I  felt  a  wild 
and  fearful  triumph  in  following  him  to  his  cover,  over  passes  which  it  was 
my  pleasure  to  think  none  of  the  hardy  mountaineers  themselves  would  have 
dared  to  venture  upon  with  impunity.  I  paused  not  to  consider  of  the  difli- 
culty  of  bearing  away  my  prize,  even  if  I  succeeded  in  overtaking  it.  At  every 
step  my  excitement  and  determination  became  stronger,  and  I  felt  every  fibre 
of  my  frame  to  cjilate,  as  when,  in  my  more  boyish  days,  I  used  to  brave,  in 
•  my  gallant  skiff,  the  mingled  fury  of  the  warring  elements  of  sea  and  storm. 
Suddenly,  while  my  mind  was  intent  only  on  the  dangers  I  used  then  to  hold 
in  such  light  estimation,  I  found  my  further  progress  intercepted  by  a  fissure 
in  the  craig.  It  was  not  the  width  of  this  opening  that  disconcerted  me,  for 
it  exceeded  not  ten  feet ;  but  I  came  upon  it  so  unadvisedly,  that,  in  attempt- 


\V  A.  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OK,     T  H  K      P  K  O  P  H  K  C  Y  .  191 

ing  to  check  my  forwr.rd  motion,  1  li:ui  iioiirly  loril  my  (.'nuipoi.se,  and  iUlIen  into 
the  abyss  that  now  yawned  befoi-c  on  either  side  of  me.  To  pause  upon  the 
danger,  would,  1  folt,  be  to  insure  it.  Summoning  all  my  dexterity  into  a  sin- 
gle bound.  I  cleared  the  chasm  ;  and  with  one  buckskined  foot  (for  my  hunt- 
ing costjunc  was  strictly  Highland)  clung  firmly  to  the  ledge,  while  I  secured 
my  balance  witli  the  other.  At  this  point  the  rock  becanxe  gradually  broader, 
so  that  I  now  trod  the  remainder  of  the  rude  path  in  perfect  security,  until  I 
at  length  found  myself  close  to  the  vast  mass  of  which  these  ledges  wore  merely 
ramifications  or  veins:  but  still  I  could  discover  no  outlet  by  which  the 
wounded  deer  could  have  escaped.  While  I  lingered,  thoughtfully,  for  a  mo- 
ment, half  in  disappointment,  half  in  anger,  and  with  my  back  leaning  against 
the  rock,  I  fimcied  I  heard  a  rustling,  as  of  the  leaves  and  branches  of  under- 
wood, on  that  part  which  projected  lil;  a  ■::!iopy,  far  above  the  ab3-ss.  I  bent 
my  eyes  eagerly  and  fixedly  on  tln'  p'  \  i  ■  ■  the  sound  proceeded,  and  pre- 
.sently  could  disti-.igui-^h  the  blue  six\  ,'!;;  ■;  r.ng  through  an  aperture,  to  which 
was,  the  iu^t  ii'!  .  d.  rw ,ir-,-.  niiplit'd  wliat  I  conceived  to  be  a  human  face.  No 
sooner,  li'i-.v  w  i .  \'>  .-  i  -.  .n  (li;iii  withdrawn;  and  then  the  rustling  of  leaves 
was  heard  again.  lliiiI  all  was  still  as  belbre. 

"A  new  direction  was  now  given  to  my  feelings.  I  felt  a  pi'cscntiment  that 
my  adventure,  if  prosecuted,  would  terminate  in  some  exti'aordinary  iind  char- 
acteristic manner:  and  obeying,  as  I  ever  did,  the  first  impn^-  •  -I'v  -  '  "art,  I 
prepared  to  grapple  once  more  with  the  difficulties  that   v.  -    i  to  be 

surmounted.  Sn-.hig  my  gun  between  some  twisted  roois  i,-  iv  out  of 
and  adhered  i<<         i  M)dy  of  the  rock,  I  commenced  the  diliicult  assent; 

and,  after  coi  it,  found  myself  at  length  immediately  under  the 

aperture.     iMy  ^     ,.  inng  the  lower  superficies  of  this  projection  was  hke 

that  of  a  crawling  lej/iile.  My  back  hung  suspended  over  the  chasm,  into 
which  one  false  movement  of  hand  or  foot,  one  yielding  of  the  roots  entwined 
in  the  i-ock  must  inevitably  have  precipitated  me ;  and.  while  my  toes  wormed 
themselves  into  the  tortuous  fibres  of  the  latter,  I  passed  hand  over  hand  be- 
yond raj  head,  until  T  liad  arrived  within  a  foot  or  two  of  the  point  I  desired 
to  reach.  ILr  V  >  ::  new  difficulty  occm-ed.  .\  ii'  i  i  ■  tiou  of  the 
rock,  close  t<!  impeded  my  further  pro;j.  i  :'i;;'  r  hith- 

erto pursued  ;  :•  I  I  '  ;  -s  this,  I  was  compelled  to  •  :  ^  >  .  1m )!(■  weight, 
suspended  by  oiie  vigorous  arm,  while,  with  the  otlier,  J  separated  the  bushes 
that  concealed  the  opening.  A  violent  exertion  of  every  muscle  now  impelled 
me  upward,  until  at  length  I  had  so  tar  succeeded  as  to  mtroduce  my  head 
and  shoulders  througth  the  aperture ;  after  which  my  final  success  was  no 
longer  doubtful." 

One  of  those  painful  pauses  with  which  his  narrative  was  often  broken,  here 
occurred ;  and,  with  an  energy  that  terrified  her  whom  he  addressed,  Wacousta 
pursued, — •'  Clara  de  Haldimar,  it  was  here — in  this  garden — this  paradise — 
this  oasis  of  the  rocks  in  which  I  now  found  myself,  that  I  first  saw  and  loved 
your  mother.  Ha  !  you  .start:  you  believe  me  now.  Loved  her !"  he  continued, 
after  another  short  pause — "  oh,  what  a  feeble  word  is  love  to  express  the  con- 
centration of  mighty  feelings  that  flowed  like  burning  lava  through  my  veins ! 
Who  shall  pretend  to  give  a  name  to  the  emotion  that  ran  thrillingly — madly 
through  my  excited  frame,  when  first  I  gazed  on  her.  who,  in  every  attribute 
of  womanly  beauty,  realised  all  my  fondest  fancy  ever  painted? — Listen  to 
me,  Ciara.*'  lie  pursued,  in  a  fiercer  tone,  and  with  a  convulsive  pressure  of  the 
form  he  still  encircled  ; — "If.  in  my  younger  days,  my  mind  was  alive  to  enter- 
prise, and  loved  to  contemplate  danger  in  its  most  appalling  forms,  this  was 
far  fiom  being  the  master  passion  of  ray  soul ;  nay,  it  was  the  strong  necessity 
I  felt  of  pouring  into  some  devoted  bosom  the  overflowing  fulness  of  my  heart, 
that  made  me  court  in  solitude  those  positions  of  danger  with  which  the  image 
of  w^oman  was  ever  as.sociatcd. 

"  I  have  already  said  that,  on  gaining  the  summit  of  the  rock,  I  found  my- 
self in  a  sort  of  oasis  of  the  mountains.     It  was  so.     Belted  iu  on  every  Ixand 


192  WACorsTA;    or,    the    prophecy. 

by  bold  and  precipitous  crags,  that  seemed  to  defy  the  approach  even  of  the 
wildest  animals,  and  putting  utterly  at  fault  the  penetration  and  curiosity  of 
man,  was  spread  a  carpet  of  verdure,  a  luxuriance  of  vegetation,  that  might 
have  put  to  shame  the  fertility  of  the  soft  breeze-nourished  valleys  of  Italy  and 
Southern  France. 

"  At  about  twenty  yards  from  the  aperture,  and  on  a  bank,  formed  of  turf, 
covered  with  moss,  and  interspersed  with  roses  and  honey-suckles,  sat  the 
divinity  of  the  oasis.  She,  too,  was  clad  in  the  Highland  dress,  which  gave  an 
air  of  wildness  and  elegance  to  her  figure  that  was  in  classic  harmony  with  the 
surrounding  scenery.  At  the  moment  of  mj^  appearance  she  was  in  the  act  of 
dressing  the  wounded  shoulder  of  a  stag  that  had  recently  been  shot ;  and 
from  the  broad  tartan  riband  I  perceived  attached  to  its  neck,  added  to  the 
fact  of  the  tameness  of  the  animal,  I  presumed  that  this  stag,  evidently  a 
favorite  of  its  mistress,  was  the  same  I  had  fired  at  and  wounded.  The  rust- 
ling I  made  among  the  bushes  had  attracted  her  attention  ;  she  raised  her  eyes 
■from  the  deer,  and  beholding  me,  started  to  her  feet,  uttering  a  cry  of  terror 
and  surprise.  Fearing  to  speak,  as  if  the  sound  of  my  own  voice  were  sufficient 
to  dispel  the  illusion  that  facinated  both  ej'e  and  heart  into  delicious  tension 
■on  her  form,  I  stood  for  some  moments  as  motionless  as  the  rock  out  of  which 
I  appeared  to  grow,  gazing  upon  her  I  was  destined  to  love  for  ever. 

"  It  was  this  utter  immobility  on  my  own  part,  that  ensured  me  a  continu- 
ance of  the  exquisite  happiness  I  then  enjoyed.  The  first  movement  of  the 
startled  girl  had  been  to  fly  towards  her  dwelling,  which  stood  at  a  short 
distance,  half  imbedded  in  the  same  clustering  roses  and  honey-suckles  that 
adorned  her  bank  of  moss  ;  but  when  she  remarked  my  utter  stillness,  and 
apparent  absence  of  purpose,  she  checked  the  impulse  that  would  have  direct- 
ed her  departure,  and  stopped,  half  in  curiosity,  half  in  fear,  to  examine  me 
once  more.  At  that  moment  all  my  energies  appeared  to  be  restored  ;  I 
threw  myself  into  an  attitude  expressive  of  deep  contrition  for  the  intrusion 
of  which  I  had  been  xmconsciously  guilty,  and  dropping  on  one  knee,  and  rais- 
ing my  clasped  hands,  inclined  them  towards  her  in  token  of  mingled  depre- 
>cation  of  her  anger,  and  respectful  homage  to  herself  At  first  she  hesitated, — 
then  gradually  and  timidly  retrod  her  way  to  the  seat  she  had "  so  abruptly 
quitted  in  her  alarm.  Emboldened  by  this  movement,  I  made  a  step  or  two 
in  advance,  but  no  sooner  had  I  done  so  than  she  again  took  to  flight.  Once 
more,  however,  she  turned  to  behold  me,  and  again  I  had  dropped  on  my 
knee,  and  was  conjuring  her,  with  the  same  signs,  to  remain  and  bless  me 
■with  her  presence.  Again  she  returned  to  her  seat,  and  again  I  advanced. 
Scarcely  less  timid,  however,  than  the  deer,  which  followed  her  every  moment, 
she  fled  a  third  time, — a  third  time  looked  back,  and  was  again  induced,  by  my 
supplicating  manner,  to  return.  Frequently  was  tbis  repeated,  before  I  finally 
found  myself  at  the  feet,  and  pressing  the  hand — (oh  God  !  what  torture  in 
the  recollection!) — yes,  pressing  the  hand  of  her  for  whose  smile  I  would, 
even  at  that  moment,  have  sacrificed  my  soul.  Such  was  your  mother,  Clara 
de  Haldimar  ;  yes,  even  such  as  I  have  described  her  was  Clara  Beverley." 

Again  Wacousta  paused,  and  his  pause  was  longer  than  usual,  as,  with  his 
large  hand  again  covering  his  face,  he  seemed  endeavoring  to  master  the  feel- 
ings which  these  recollections  had  called  up.  Clara  scarcely  breathed.  Un- 
mindful of  her  desolate  position,  her  soul  was  intent  only  on  a  history  that 
related  so  immediately  to  her  beloved  mother,  of  M-hom  all  that  she  had 
hitherto  known  was,  that  she  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  that  her  father 
had  married  her  while  quartered  in  that  country.  The  deep  emotion  of  the 
terrible  being  before  her,  so  often  manifested  in  the  course  of  what  he  had 
already  given  of  his  recital,  added  to  her  knowledge  of  the  facts  just  named, 
scarcely  "left  a  doubt  of  the  truth  of  his  statement  on  her  mind.  Her  ear  was 
now  bent  aching  towards  him,  in  expectation  of  a  continuance  of  his  history, 
but  he  still  remained  in  the  same  attitude  of  absorption.  An  irresistible  im- 
ptilse  caused  her  to  extend  her  hand,  and  remove  his  own  from  his  eyes : 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OK,      T  11  K      PRO  P  H  E  C  Y  .  1 93 

they  weio  tilled  with  tears ;  and  even  while  her  mind  rapidly  embraced  the 
hope  that  this  manifestation  of  tenderness  was  but  the  dawning  of  mercy  to- 
wards the  children  of  her  he  had  once  loved,  her  kind  nature  could  not  avoid 
Bvmpathising  with  hnn,  whose  uncouthness  of  appearance  and  sava^encss  of 
nature  were,  in  some  measure,  lost  sight  of  in  the  fact  of  the  powerful  love  ho 
yet  aj)parently  acknowledged. 

Hut  no  sooner  did  Wacousta  feel  the  soft  pressure  of  her  hand,  and  meet 
her  eyes  turned  on  his  with  an  expression  of  interest,  tlian  the  most  rapid 
transition  was  effected  in  his  feelings.  He  drew  the  form  of  the  weakly  re- 
sisting girl  closer  to  his  heart ;  again  imprinted  a  kiss  upon  her  lips  ;  and 
then,  while  every  muscle  in  his  iron  frame  seemed  quivering  with  emotion, 
exclaimed, — '"  By  heaven  !  that  touch,  that  glance,  were  Clara  Beverley's.  Yes, 
Clara,"  he  proceeded  more  deliberately,  as  he  scanned  her  form  with  an  eye 
that  made  her  shudder,  "  such  as  your  mother  was,  so  are  you  ;  the  same  de- 
licacy of  proportion  ;  the  same  graceful  curvature  of  limb,  only  less  rounded, 
less  womanly.  Bat  you  must  be  younger  by  about  two  years  than  she  then 
was." 

There  was  a  cool  licence  of  speech — a  startling  freedom  of  manner — in  the 
latter  part  of  his  address,  that  disappointed  not  less  than  it  pained  and  of- 
fended the  unhappy  Clara.  She  shuddered  ;  and  sighing  bitterly,  suflered  her 
tears  to  force  themselves  through  her  closed  lids  upon  her  pallid  cheek.  This 
change  in  her  appearance  seemed  to  act  as  a  check  on  the  temporary  excite- 
ment'of  Wacousta.  Again  obeying  one  of  those  rapid  transitions  of  feeling, 
for  which  he  was  remarkable,  he  once  more  assumed  an  expression  of  seri- 
ousness, and  thus  continued  his  narrative. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

"  It  boots  not  now,  Clara,  to  enter  upon  all  that  succeeded  to  my  fir.st  in- 
troduction to  your  mother.  It  would  take  long  to  relate,  not  the  gradations 
of  our  passion,  for  that  was  like  tlie  whirlwind  of  the  desert,  sudden  and  de- 
vastating from  the  first ;  but  the  burning  vow,  the  plighted  faith,  the  repos- 
ing confidence,  the  unchecked  abondonment  that  flew  from  the  lips,  and  filled 
the  heart  of  each,  sealed,  as  they  were,  with  kisses,  long,  deep,  enervating, 
even  such  as  I  had  ever  pictured  that  divine  pledge  of  human  afiection  should 
be.     Ye.s,  Clara  de  Ilaldimar,  your  mother  was  the  child  of  nature  then. 

"  I  was  not  always  the  ruiiucd  Ixinu- 1  now  appear.  Of  suryiassing  strength 
I  had  ever  been,  and  fleet  of  ino;  ;  Ijiit  nut  then  had  1  attained  to  my  present 
gigantic  stature;  neither  was  niy  I'diih  endoweTl  with  the  same  herculean 
rudeness  ;  nor  did  my  complexion  wear  the  swarthy  hue  of  the  savage  ;  nor 
had  my  features  been  rendered  repulsive,  from  the  perpetual  action  of  those 
fierce  pa.ssions  which  have  since  assailed  mj'  soul. 

"  Your  mother  had  been  brought  up  in  solitude,  and  without  having  seen 
the  face  of  another  man  that  her  fjither.  Colonel  Beverley,  of  English  name, 
hut  Scottish  connections,  was  an  old  gentleman  of  considerable  eccentricity  of 
character.  He  had  taken  a  part  in  tlie  rebellion  of  1715  ;  but  sick  and  dis- 
gusted with  an  issue  by  which  his  fortunes  had  been  aftected,  and  heart- 
hroken  by  the  loss  of  a  beloved  wife,  whose  death  had  been  accelerated  by 
circumstances  connected  witli  the  disturl)ed  nature  of  the  times,  he  had  resolv- 
ed to  bury  himself  and  child  in  some  wild,  where  the  face  of  man,  whom  he 
loathed,  might  no  more  offend  his  sigiit.  This  oasis  of  tiie  mountains  was  the 
spot  selected  for  his  purpose ;  for  he  had  discovered  it  some  3-ears  previously, 
on  an  occasion,  when,  closely  pursued  by  some  of  the  English  troops,  and  se- 
parated from  his  followers,  he  liad  only  effected  hi.",  escape  by  venturing  on 
the  ledges  of  rock  1  have  alrcadv  described.  After  minute  subsequent  search 
13 


194      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

at  the  opposite  extremity  of  the  oblong  belt  of  rocks  that  shut  it  in  on  every 
hand,  he  had  discovered  an  opening,  through  which  the  transport  of  such  ne- 
cessaries as  were  essential  to  his  object  might  be  effected ;  and,  causing  one  of 
his  dwelling  houses  to  be  pulled  down,  he  had  the  materials  carried  across  the 
rocks  on  the  shoulders  of  the  men  employed  to  re-erect  them  in  his  chosen 
solitude.  A  few  months  served  to  complete  these  arrangements,  which  in- 
cluded a  garden  abounding  in  eveiy  fruit  and  flov/er  that  could  possibly  hve 
in  so  elevated  a  region  ;  and  this,  in  time,  under  his  own  culture,  and  that  of 
his  daughter,  became  the  Eden  it  first  appeared  to  me. 

•'  Previous  to  their  entering  on  this  employment,  the  workmen  had  beeu 
severally  sworn  to  secrecy  ;  and  when  all  was  declared  ready  for  his  reception, 
the  colonel  summoned  them  a  second  time  to  his  presence ;  wlien,  after  mak- 
ing a  handsome  present  to  each,  in  addition  to  his  hire,  he  found  no  difficvilty 
in  prevailing  on  them  to  renew  their  oath  that  they  would  preserve  the  most 
scrupulous  silence  in  regard  to  the  place  of  his  retreat.  He  then  took  advan- 
tage of  a  dark  and  tempestuous  night  to  execute  his  project ;  and,  attended 
only  by  an  old  woman  and  her  daughter,  faithful  dependants  of  the  family, 
set  out  in  quest  of  his  new  above,  leaving  all  his  neighbors  to  discuss  and 
marvel  at  the  singularity  of  his  disappearance.  True  to  his  text,  however, 
not  even  a  boy  was  admitted  into  liis  household  :  and  here  thej^  had  continued 
to  live,  unseeing  and  unseen  by  man,  except  when  a  solitary  and  distant 
mountaineer  occasionally  flitted  among  the  rocks  below  in  pursuit  of  his 
game.  Fruits  and  vegetables  composed  their  diet ;  but  once  a  fortnigiit  the 
old  woman  was  despatched  through  the  opening  already  mentioned,  which 
was  at  other  times  so  secured  by  her  master  that  no  hand  but  his  own  could 
remove  the  intricate  festenings.  This  expedition  .  had  for  its  object  the  pur- 
chase of  bread  and  animal  food  at  the  nearest  market  y  and  every  lime  she 
sallied  forth  an  oath  was  administered  to  the  crone,  the  purport  of  which  was, 
not  only  that  she  would  return,  unless  prevented  by  violence  or  death,  but 
that  she  would  not  answer  any  questions  put  to  her,  as  to  whom  slie  was, 
•whence  she  came,  or  for  whom  the  fruits  of  her  marketing  were  intended. 

''  Meanwhile,  wrapped  up  in  his  books,  which  were  chiefly  classic  authors, 
or  writers  on  abstruse  sciences,  the  misanthropical  colonel  paid  little  or  no  at- 
tention to  the  cultivation  of  the  intellect  of  his  daughter,  whom  he  had  merely, 
instructed  in  the  elementary  branches  of  education  ;  in  all  which,  however. 
she  evinced  an  aptitude  and  perfectibility  that  indicated  quickness  of  genius 
and  a  capability  of  far  higher  attainments.  Books  he  principally  withheld 
from  her,  because  they  brought  the  image  of  man,  whom  he  hated,  and  wished 
she  should  also  hate,  too  often  in  flattering  colors  before  her ;  and  had  any 
work  treating  of  love  been  found  to  have  crept  accidentally  into  his  own  col- 
lection, it  would  instantly  and  indig-nantly  have  been  committed  to  the  flames. 
"  Thus  left  to  the  action  of  her  own  heart — the  guidance  of  her  own  feel- 
ings— it  was  but  natural  your  mother  should  have  sajfered  her  imagination 
torepose  on  an  ideal  happiness,  which,  although  in  some  degree  destitute  of 
shape  and  character,  was  still  powerfully  felt.  What  dear  acknov/ledgments 
(alas !  too  deceitful)  flowed  from  her  guileless  lips,  even  during  our  first  in- 
terview. 

"  Two  long  and  deiicioiis  hours."  pursued  Wacousta,  after  another  painful 
pause  of  some  moments,  "did  we  pass  together,  exchanging  thought,  and 
speech,  and  heart,  as  if  the  term  of  our  acquaintance  had  been  coeval  with  the 
first  dawn  of  our  intellectual  life  ;  when  suddenly  a  small  .silver-toned  bell  was 
heard  ft'om  the  direction  of  the  house,  hid  from  the  spot  on  which  we  sat  by 
the  luxmiant  foliage  of  an  intervening  laburnum.  This  sound  seemed  to  dis- 
sipate the  dreamy  calm  that  had  wrapped  the  soul  of  your  mother  into  for- 
getfulness.  She  started  suddenly  up,  and  bade  me,  if  I  loved  her,  begone ;  as 
that  bell  announced  her  required  attendance  on  her  father,  who,  now  ais-aken- 
ed  from  the  mid-day  s]umb(;r  in  which  he  ever  indulged,  was  about  to  take 
liis  ;iccustomed  walk  around  the  grounds ;  which  was  little  else,  in  fact,  than 


w  A  c  o  u  s  T  A  ;    on,    t  n  f,    v  k  o  v  n  k  c  y  .  195 

a  close  inspection  of  the  walls  of  his  natural  ca«tle.  1  rose  to  obey  her :  our 
eyes  met,  and  she  threw  herself  into  uiy  extended  arms.  Wc  whispered  anew 
our  vows  of  eternal  love.  She  called  nie  hci-  husband,  and  I  pronounced  the 
endearing  name  of  wife.  A  burning  kiss  scaled  the  compact ;  and,  on  her 
archly  observing  that  the  sleep  of  her  fatlier  continued  about  two  hours  at 
noon,  and  th.at  the  old  woman  and  her  daughter  M'cre  always  occupied  within 
doors,  I  promised  to  repeat  my  visit  every  second  day  untifshe  finally  quitted 
her  retreat  to  be  my  own  for  life. 

"  One  morning  I  had  hastily  sketched  an  outline  of  your  mother's  features 
in  pencil,  with  a  view  to  assist  me  in  the  design  of  a  miniature  I  proposed 
painting  from  memory.  While  occupied  the  second  day  in  its  com})letion,  it 
occurred  to  me  I  was  in  orders  for  duty  on  the  following,  which  was  that  of 
my  promised  visit  to  the  oasis  ;  and  1  despatclicd  my  servant  with  my  com- 
pliments to  your  father,  and  a  request  that  he  w »;;!(]  !u'  so  obliging  as  to  take 
my  guard  for  me  on  the  to-morrow,  and  T  won'ni  jiji'bnii  his  duty  when  next 
his  name  rij)peared  on  the  roster.  Some  time  afterwards  1  heard  the  door  of  the 
room  in  wiii('h  I  sat  open,  and  some  one  enter.  Presuming  it  to  be  my  ser- 
vant, (returned  from  the  execution  of  the  message  with  which  he  had  ju.st 
been  charged,)  1  paid  no  attention  to  the  circumstance  ;  but  finding,  presently, 
he  did  not  speak,  I  turned  round  with  a  view  of  demanding  what  answer  he 
had  brought.  To  my  surprise,  however,  I  beheld,  not  my  servant,  but  your 
father.  He  was  standing  looking  over  m}^  shoulder  at  the  work  on  which  I 
was  engaged ;  and  notwithstanding  in  the  instant  he  resumed  the  cold,  quiet, 
smirking  look  that  usually  distinguished  him,  I  thought  I  coidd  trace  the 
evidence  of  some  deep  emotion  wliicli  my  action  had  suddenly  dispelled.  He 
apologised  for  his  intrusion,  although  we  were  oti  those  terms  that  rendered 
apology  unnecessary,  but  said  he  had  just  received  my  message,  and  preferred 
coming  in  person  to  assure  me  how  happy  he  should  feel  to  take  my  duty,  or 
to  render  me  any  other  service  in  his  po-vcr.  I  fnniight  he  laid  unusual  em- 
phasis on  the  last  sentence;  yet  1  thai:  mly,  stating  that  the  only 
service  I  should  now  exact  of  him  v/c;  jny  guard,  as  T  \vas  com- 
pelled to  be  absent  nearly  the  vrlx^''''  <  T'l'uing.  Re  obscrvetl 
with  a  smile,  he  hoped  I  was  no !  i-ikou  those  danger- 
ous precipices  a  second  time,  aftt  '  .  '•  :  lind  on  the  preced- 
.ingday.;  As  he  spoke,  I  thougi  i  :  sly  yet  scrutinising 
glance;  and,  not  wishing  to  r;  ;  -  sl'ion,  I  asked  him 
what  he  thought  of  the  work  wi ; ;  .  '  iiig  to  beguile  an  idle 
hour.  He  took  it  up,  and  I  watched  the  expix-ssion  of  iiishandsome  counte- 
nance with  the  anxiety  of  a  lover  who  wisl'.es  that  all  should  think  his  mis- 
tress beautiful  as  he  does  himself.  It  betrayed  a  very  iudefmite  sort  of  admi- 
ration ;  and  yet  it  struck  me  there  was  an  eagerness  in  bis  dilating  eye  that 
contrasted  strongly  with  the  calm  and  uncojiccrn  of  his  other  featm-es.  At 
length  I  asked  him  laughing!}-,  vrJi:iv  lie  il^nif-!.;  of  my  Cornish  cousin.  He 
replied,  cautiously  enough,  that  siijce  it  ■,,  !s  'ii.;  likeness  of  a  cousin,  and  he 
dwelt  emphatically  on  the  word,  lie  cowld  not  Tail  to  admire  it.  Candor, 
however,  compelled  him  to  admit,  ti\at  had  I  not  declared  the  original  to  be 
one  so  closely  connected  with  me,  he  should  liavc  said  the  talent  of  so  per- 
fect an  artist  might  have  been  better  emploj-ed. 

••  The  next  day  saw  me  again  at  tlie  side  of  youv  mother,  Avho  received  me 
with  the  same  artless  demonstrations  of  ?ifex)tion.  After  the  first  full  and 
unreserved  interchange  of  our  souls'  best  feelings,  our  conversatioii  turned 
upon  lighter  topics ;  and  I  took  an  opportunity^  to  produce  the  fruit  of  my  ap>- 
plication  since  we  parted.  Never  siiaJl  T  forget  the  surprise  and  delight  that 
animated  her  beautiful  counteriancc  when  first  she  gazed  upon  the  miiyature. 
She  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  retain  it;  and  to  this  I  readily  assented j 
stipulating  only  to  keep  it  until  my  next  visit,  in  order  th.at  I  might  take  an 
exact  copy  for  myself.  She  herself,  she  said,  had  not  been  idle.  Although 
her  pencil  could  not  call  up  my  image  ia  the  same  m.^nnev.  hor  pen  had  better 


196      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy. 

repaid  ber  exertions  ;  and  in  return  for  the  portrait  she  would  give  me  a  let- 
ter she  had  written  to  beguile  her  loneliness  on  the  preceding  day.  As  she 
spoke  she  drew  a  sealed  packet  from  the  bosom  of  her  dress,  and  placing  it  in 
my  hand,  desired  me  not  to  read  it  until  I  had  returned  to  my  home.  But 
there  was  an  expression  of  sweet  confusion  in  her  lovely  countenance,  and  a 
trepidation  in  her  manner,  that,  half  disclosing  the  truth,  rendered  me  utterly 
impatient  of  the  delay  imposed ;  and  eagerly  breaking  the  seal,  I  devoured 
rather  than  read  its  contents. 

"  Accursed  madness  of  recollection  !"  pursued  Wacousta,  again  striking  his 
brow  violently  with  his  hand, — "  why  is  it  that  I  ever  feel  thus  luimanned 
while  recurring  to  those  letters  ?  Oh  !  Clara  de  Haldimar.  never  did  woman 
pen  to  man  such  declarations  of  tenderness  and  attachment  as  that  too  dear 
but  faithless  letter  of  your  mother  contained.  All  conlidingness,  she  sank 
her  head  upon  my  chest,  which  heaved  scarcely  less  wildly  than  her  own. 

"  The  hour  of  parting  at  lengtli  arrived,  announced,  as  before,  by  the  small 
bell  of  her  father,  and  I  again  tore  myself  from  her  arms." 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

"  Nearly  a  month  passed  away  in  this  manner ;  and  at  each  interview  our 
affection  seemed  to  increase.  One  day,  while  preparing  to  set  out  on  my  cus- 
tomary excursion,  a  report  suddenly  reached  me  that  the  route  had  arrived 
for  the  regiment,  who  were  to  march  from within  three  days.  This  in- 
telligence I  received  with  inconceivable  delight ;  for  it  had  been  settled  by 
your  mother  and  myself,  that  this  should  be  the  moment  chosen  for  her  de- 
parture, 

"  With  a  glowing  cheek  and  a  countenance  radiant  with  happiness,  did 
your  mother  receive  my  proposal  to  prepare  for  her  departure  on  the  follow- 
ing day.  She  was  sufiiciently  aware,  even  through  what  I  had  stated  myself, 
that  there  were  certain  ceremonies  of  the  church  to  be  performed,  in  order  to 
give  sanctity  to  our  union,  and  ensure  her  own  personal  respectability  in  the 
world;  and  these,  I  told  her,  would  be  solemnised  by  the  chaplain  of  the 
regiment.  She  implicitly  confided  in  me  ;  and  she  was  right ;  for  I  loved  her 
too  well  to  make  her  my  mistress,  while  no  barrier  existed  to  her  claim  to  a 
dearer  title. 

"  The  only  difficulty  that  now  occurred  was  the  manner  of  her  flight.  I 
■  had  proposed,  as  the  most  feasible  and  rational  plan,  that  the  colonel  should 
be  compelled  to  give  us  egress  through  the  secret  passage,  when  we  might 
command  the  services  of  the  old  woman  to  guide  us  through  the  passes  that 
led  to  the  town  ;  but  to  this  your  mother  most  urgently  objected,  declaring 
that  she  would  rather  encounter  any  personal  peril  that  might  attend  her  es- 
cape in  a  different  manner,  than  appear  to  be  a  participator  in  an  act  of  vio- 
lence against  her  parent,  whose  obstinacy  of  character  she  moreover  knew  too 
well  toleave  a  hope  of  his  being  intimidated  into  the  accomplishment  of  our 
object,  even  by  a  threat  of  deatli  itself.  This  plan  I  was  therefore  compelled 
to  abandon  ;  and  as  neither  of  us  were  able  to  discover  the  passage  Ijy  which 
the  deer  always  effected  its  entrance,  I  was  obliged  to  fix  upon  one.  which  it 
was  urged  should  be  put  in  practice  on  the  following  day. 

"  On  my  return,  I  occupied  myself  with  preparations  for  the  reception  of 
her  who  was  so  speedily  to  become  my  wife.  .  Unwilling  that  she  should  be 
seen  by  any  of  my  companions,  until  the  ceremony  was  finally  performed,  I 
engaged  apartments  in  a  small  retired  cottage,  distant  about  half  a  mile  from 
the  furthest  extremity  of  the  town,  where  I  purposed  she  should  remain  un- 
•til  the  regiment  finally  quitted  the  station.  This  point  secured,  I  hastened 
•to  the  quarters  of  the  chaplain,  to  engage  his  services  for  the  following  eve- 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A   ;      OR,     T  H  K      1'  R  O  P  H  E  C  Y  .  197 

ning ;  but  he  was  from  home  at  the  time,  and  I  n']):iire(l  to  my  own  rooms, 
to  prepare  the  means  of  escape  for  your  mother.  These  ot'cupied  me  until  a 
very  late  liour ;  and  when  at  length  I  retired  to  rest,  it  was  only  to  indulge 
in  (he  fondest  imaginings  that  ever  filled  the  heart  of  a  devoted  lover.  Alas  1 
(and  the  dark  warrior  again  sighed  heavily)  the  day-dream  of  my  happiness 
was  already  fast  drawing  to  a  close. 

"  4^  half  an  hour  before  noon.  1  was  again  in  the  oasis  ;  your  mother  was- 
at  the  wonted  spot ;  and  although  she  received  me  with  her  sunniest  smiles, 
there  were  traces  of  tears  upon  her  cheek.  She  nnplored  me  to  forgive  her 
weakness;  but  it  was  the  first  time  she  was  to  be  separated  from  her  parent; 
and  conscious  as  she  was  that  it  ^vas  to  be  for  ever,  she  ould  not  repress  the 
feeling  that  rose,  despite  of  herself,  to  her  heart.  8iie  had.  however,  prepared 
a  letter,  at  my  suggestion,  to  be  left  on  her  favorite  moss  seat,  where  it  was 
likely  she  would  liist  be  sought  by  her  father,  to  assure  him  of  her  safety,, 
and  of  her  prospects  of  future  happiness;  and  the  consciousness  that  he 
would  labor  under  no  harrowing  uncertainty  in  regard  to  her  fate,  seemed  at 
length  to  soothe  and  satisfy  her  heart. 

"  I  now  led  her  to  the  aperture,  where  [  had  left  the  apparatus  jjrovided  for 
my  purpose  :  this  consisted  of  a  close  netting,  alMuit  fmn-  feet  in  de{ith,  with 
a  board  for  a  footstool  at  the  bottom,  and  furni.-lu'd  id  intervals  with  hoops, 
.so  as  to  keep  it  full  and  open.  The  top  of  this  netting  was  provided  with 
two  handles,  to  which  were  attached  the  ends  of  a  cord  many  fathoms  in 
length  ;  the  whole  of  such  diu-ability.  as  to  have  borne  weights  equal  to  those 
of  three  ordinary  sized  men,  with  which  I  had  proved  it  prior  to  my  setting 
out.  My  first  care  was  to  bandage  the  eyes  of  your  mother,  (who  willingly 
and  fearlessly  submitted  to  all  I  proposed,)  that  she  might  not  see,  and  be- 
come faint  with  seeing  the  terrible  chasm  over  which  she  was  about  to  be 
suspended.  I  then  placed  her  within  the  netting,  which,  fitting  closely  to  her 
person,  and  reaching  under  her  arms,  completely  secured  her ;  and  my  next 
urgent  request  was,  that  she  should  not,  on  any  account,  remove  the  bandage 
or  make  the  slightest  movement,  when  she  found  herself  stationary  below, 
until  I  had  joined  hei'.  I  then  dropped  her  genth^  through  the  aperture,  low- 
ering tathom  after  flithom  of  the  rope,  the  ends  of  which  I  had  firml}^  secured 
round  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  as  an  additional  safeguard,  until  she  finally  came 
on  a  level  with  that  part  of  the  clift"  on  which  I  had  reposed  when  first  she 
beheld  me.  As  she  still  hung  immediately  over  the  ab3^ss,  it  was  necessary 
to  give  a  gradual  impetus  to  her  weight,  to  enable  her  to  gain  the  landing- 
place.  I  now,  therefore,  commenced  swinging  her  to  and  fro.  until  she  at 
length  came  so  near  the  point  desired,  that  I  clearly  saw  the  principal  diflicul- 
ty  was  surmounted.  The  necessary  motion  having  been  given  to  the  balance, 
with  one  vigorous  and  final  impulsion  I  dexterously  contrived  to  deposit  her 
several  feet  from  the  edge  of  the  lower  rock,  when,  slackening  the  rope  on  the 
instant,  I  had  the  inexpressible  satisfaction  to  see  that  she  remained  firm  and  sta- ' 
tionary.  The  waving  of  her  scarf  immediately  afterwards  (a  signal  previously 
agreed  upon),  announced  she  had  sustained  no  injur}^  in  this  rather  rude  col- 
lision with  the  rock,  and  I  in  turn  commenced  my  descent. 

"  Fearing  to  cast  away  the  ends  of  the  rope,  lest  their  weight  should  by 
any  chance  ali'ect  the  balance  of  the  footing  your  mother  had  obtained,  I  now- 
secured  them  around  my  loins,  and  accomplishing  my  descent  in  the  customa- 
ry manner,  speedily  found  myself  once  more  at  the  side  of  my  heart's  dearest 
treasure.  I  j)repared  to  execute  the  remainder  of  m}^  task  ;  and  again  applied 
the  bandage  to  her  eyes,  saying  that,  although  the  principal  danger  was  over, 
still  there  was  another  I  could  not  besff"  she  should  look  upon. 

'^  Disengaging  the  rope  from  the  handles  of  the  netting,  I  now  applied  to 
these  a  broad  leathern  belt,  and  stooping  with  my  back  to  the  cherished  bur- 
den with  which  1  was  about  to  charge  myself,  passed  the  centre  of  the  belt 
across  my  chest,  much  in  the  manner  in  which,  as  you  are  aware,  Indian 
women  carry  their  infant  children.     As  an  additional  precaution,  I  had  secured 


198  W  A  C  O  I'.  S  T  A  ;       OR,     THE     P  R  0  P  H  E  C  V  . 

the  11- '  "  '    ;.y  vraist  by  a  strong,-  lacing-  of  cord,  and  then  raising  my- 

self t  '  -it.  and  satisfyinj^  iay.\;e]f  of  the  perfect  freedom  of  action 

of  my  '         .  '  a  long  balancing  pole  I  had  left  suspended  against  the 

rock  at  my  last  %isit.  and  commenced  my  descent  of  the  sloping  ridge.  On 
approachinc;  the  horrible  chasm,  a  feeling-  of  faintness  came  over  me,  despite 
.-.r  iJ-c  ,T,r.  ■!.;;•;■: :  v.iih  whi'^li  i  had  previousl}'  armed  myself.  This,  however, 
'•  that  every  thing  depended  on  rapidii^v  of 
J.  lurse ;  but,  quickening  my  pace  as  I  gradu- 

ally <'•:■■.  .       .V-  HI'-  iiui-i-ssary  impetus  to  my  motion,  and  cleared  the 

gap-svivi   ;    '  i'i.r  exceeding  what  had  distinguished  my  first  passage,  and 

which  ..  .  ii '  [\  ['-i  of  constant  practice  alone.  Here  my  balance  was  sus- 
tained by  ihe  pole  ;  and  at  length  I  had  the  inexpressible  satisfaction  to  find 
myself  at  the  very  extremity  of  the  ridge,  and  immediately  at  the  point  where 
I  had  left"  my  companions  in  my  first  memorable  pursuit. 

"  In  the  deep  transports  of  my  joy,  1  once  more  threw  myself  on  my 
knees  in  speechless  thanksgivmg  to  Providence  for  the  complete  success  of  my 
■madertaking.  Your  mother,  whom  I  had  previously  released  from  her  con- 
finement, did  the  same ;  and  at  that  moment  the  union  of  our  hearts  seemed 
to  be  cemented  by  a  divine  influence,  manifested  in  the  fullness  of  gratitude  of 
each.  Throv/ing  over  her  shoulders  the  mantle  of  a  youth,  which  I  had  se- 
creted near  the  spot,  I  enjoined  her  to  follow  me  closely  in  the  path  I  wais 
about  to  pursue. 

" I  have  not  liitlicrto  found  it  necessary  to  state,"  continued  Wacousta,  his 
brow  lowering  with  fioi-ce  and  gloom}'  thought,  '•  that  more  than  once,  latter- 
ly, on  my  return  from  the  oasis,  which  was  usually  at  a  stated  hour,  I  had 
observed  a  hunter  hovering  near  the  end  of  the  ledge,  yet  quickly  retreating 
as  I  advanced.  There  was  something  in  the  figure  of  this  man  that  recalled 
to  my  recollection  the  form  of  your  father  ;  but  ever,  on  my  retm-n  to  quar- 
ters, I  found  him  in  uniform,  and  exhibiting  any  thing  but  the  appearance  of 
one  who  had  recently  been  threading  his  weary  way  among  rocks  and  fast- 
nesses. Besides,  the  improbability  of  this  fact  was  so  great,  that  it  occupied 
not  my  attention  beyond  the  passing  moment.  On  the  present  occasion, 
however,  I  saw  the  same  hunter,  and  was  moi-e  forcibly  than  ever  struck  hy 
the  resemblance  to  my  friend.  Prior  to  my  quitting  the  point  where  I  had 
liberated  your  mother  from  the  nt-tting,  I  had,  in  addition  to  the  disguise  of 
the  cloak,  found  it  necessary  to  make  some  alteration  in  the  arrangement  of 
her  hair  ;  the  redundancy  of  which,  as  it  floated  gracefully  over  her  polished 
■neck,  was  in  itself  sufficient  to  betray  iier  sex.  "With  this  view  I  had  removed 
her  plumed  bonnet.  It  was  the  first  time  I  had  seen  her  without  it ;  and  so 
ileep!}'  impressed  was  I  by  the  angel  like  character  of  the  extreme  feminine 
beauty  she,  more  than  ever,  then  exhibited,  that  I  knelt  in  silent  adoration  for 
some  moments  at  her  feet,  my  eyes  and  countenance  alone  expressing  the 
fei-vent  and  almost  holy  emotion  of  my  enraptured  soul. 

"  Immediately  we  pursued  our  course  ;  and  after  an  hour's  rather  laborious 
exertion,  at  length  emerged  from  the  succession  of  glens  and  rocks  that  lay 
iu  our  way  ;  when  skirting  the  valley  in  which  the  town  was  situated,  we 
finally  reached  the  cottage  where  I  had  secured  my  lodging.  Previous  to  en- 
tering it,  I  had  told  your  mother,  that  for  the  few  hours  that  would  intervene 
before  tlie  marriage  ceremony  could  be  performed,  I  should,  by  way  of  lulling 
the  curiosity  of  her  hostess,  introduce  her  as  a  near  relative  of  ray  own. 
This  I  did  accordingly  ;  and,  having  seen  that  every  tiling  was  comfortably 
arranged  for  her  convenience,  and  recommending  her  strongly  to  the  care  of 
the  old  woman,  I  set  off  once  more  in  search  of  the  chaplain  of  the  regiment. 
Before  I  could  reach  his  residence,  however,  I  was  met  by  a  sergeant  of  my 
company,  who  came  running  towards  me,  evidently  with  some  intelligence  of 
moment.  He  stated,  that  my  presence  was  required  witliout  delay.  The 
grenadiers,  with  the  senior  subaltern,  were  in  orders  for  detacliraent  for  an 
important  service  ;  and  considerable  displeasure  had  been  manifested  by  the 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,      THE      PROPHECY.  1 9(> 

colonel  at  my  absence,  especially  as  of  late  I  had  greatly  neglected  my  military 
dutie^s.  He  had  been  looking  for  me  every  whore,  he  said,  but  without  s\ic- 
cess,  when  Ensign  de  llaldiniar  had  pointed  out  to  him  in  what  diroction  it 
was  likely  I  might  be  found. 

"  With  a  beating  heart  did  1  assume  an  '•'  '  '    i  appeared,  at  that  mo- 

ment, hideous  in  my  eyes ;  yet  I  was  not  \-  1  might  get  off  this 

ill-timed  duty.     Before  J"  had  completed  m;,  <      m,  your  father  entered 

my  quarters;  and  when  I  first  glanced  my  eye  uiil  upon  his,  I  thought  his 
countenance  exhibited  evidences  of  confusion.  This  immediately  remincd  me 
of  the  unknown  hunter,  and  I  asked  him  if  he  was  not  the  person  T  described. 
His  answer  was  not  a  positive  denial,  but  a  mixture  of  raiiery  and  surprise 
that  lulled  my  doubts,  enfeebled  as  they  were  by  the  restored  calm  of  his 
features.  1  then  told  him  that  I  had  a  particular  favor  to  ask  of  him,  which, 
in  consideration  of  our  friendship,  I  trusted  he  would  not  refuse  ;  and  that  was, 
to  take  my  duty  in  the  expedition  about  to  set  forth.  His  manner  implied  ■ 
concern  ;  and  he  a.sked,  with  a  !>  •!>  i'  t  1 'id  much  deliberate  expres.sion  in  it, 
'if  I  was  aware  that  it  was  a  'I'  I'l  blood  was  exjiected  to  be  .shed? 

He  could  not -suppose  that  an3-  <  i;i  iliaiiou  would  induce  mc  to  vesijvn  my 
duty  to  another  oilicer,  when  apprised  of  this  fiui.'  Ml  this  v,-,-is  s,-  i>l  ■,\;(b  the 
•air  of  one  really  interested  in  my  honor;  biii  in  miv  incri'asiiiL'  iii;::.!:  ■in'",  I 
told  him  I  wanted  none  of  his  cant;  I  .simpi*  u.>ktiu  aiin  .■_  i'.v«);'  v.irich  he 
would  grant  or  decline  as  he  thought  proper.  This  wa-  ,i  !i:i:,-:!i:  s  of  lan- 
guage 1  had  never  indulged  in;  but  my  mind  was  sore  uniiti-  .!;■■  existing 
causes  of  my  annoyance,  and  I  could  not  bear  to  have  my  motives  rciiected  on 
at  a  moment  when  my  heart  was  torn  with  all  the  agonies  attendant  on  the 
position  in  which  I  found  myself  placed.  His  cheek  paled  and  flushe<l  more 
than  once,  before  he  rejjlied,  '  that  in  spite  of  my  unicindncss  his  friendship 
might  induce  him  to  do  much  for  me,  even  aS  he  had  hitherto  done,  but  th.at 
on  the  present  occasion  it  rested  not  with  him.  In  order  to  justiry  hiiiisi'lfho 
would  no  longer  disguise  the  fact  from  me,  that  the  colonel  h:i  1  ('  ■  ';m  ■;!.  in 
the  presence  of  the  wdiole  regiment,  I  should  take  my  duty  regrJ  :!■;;,  is;  i  sure, 
and  not  be  sutlered  to  make  a  convenience  of  the  service  any  longer,  ti',  how- 
ever, he  could  do  anything  for  me  during  my  absence,  I  had  but  to  command 
him. 

"  While  I  was  yet  giving  vent,  in  no  measured  terms,  to  the  inuignation  I 
felt  at  being  made  the  subject  of  public  censure  by  the  colonel 
geant  came  into  th'^  roojn,  nrnioi'iicino;  tlint  the  compan;>-  wi-v 
for  me  to  march,  :iii  i   :','     'i     .  s  mi -i   .i     ii-ed  my  instniii   : 
agitation  of  mj^  f:  s  :.,i  ■,  i  ,  ^   is.:  ■  w  w  iiat  I  did,  puttsi 

of  my  regimental  equipmeoi  on  me  so  Ciiiii'S't'  ■,"  iwri''  ,  !  i  ■ 
ticed  and  rectified  the  errors  I  had  commit  i!  ;  s  ;  i  ;  i;  s 
the  sergeant,  1  expressed  the  deepest  regivi  m  si;:::  ii'-i  s 
duty  that  was  hateful  to  thi-  In-l    !o.;rei'. 

"Torn  with  agony  at  tiio  Lli'^u'  '  t  <>i'  the  imcertainty  in  which  I  was  com- 
pelled to  leave  her  whom  I  so  iuiidly  iiuored.  I  had  no  other  alternative  than 
to  make  a  partial  confident  of  your  father.  I  told  him  that  in  the  cotttige 
which  I  pointed  out  he  would  find  the  original  of  the  portrait  \\q  had  seen  me 
painting  on  a  former  occasion, — the  Cornish  cousin,  whose  beauty  he  professed 
to  hold  .so  ch.eaply.  More  he  should  know  of  her  on  my  return  ;  but  at  pre- 
sent I  confided  tier  to  his  honor,  and  begged  he  would  prove  his  friendship  for 
me  by  rendering  her  whatever  attention  she  might  require  in  her  humble 
abode.  With  these  hurried  injunctions  he  promised  to  comply  :  and  it  has 
often  occurred  to  me  since,  although  I  did  not  remark  it  at  the  time,  that  while 
his  voice  and  manner  were  calm,  there  was  a  burning  glow  upon  his  handsome 
cheek,  and  a  suppressed  exultation  in  his  eye,  that  I  had  never  observed  on 
either  before.  1  then  quitted  the  room  ;  and  hestening  to  my  company  with 
a  gloom  on  my  brow  that  indicated  the  wretchedness  of  my  inward  .spirit,  was 
soon  afterwards  on  the  march  from r." 


the  s; 

unc  ser- 

oii;v 

vraiting 

In  the 

;.'/rt:;>ns 

:  V  ;io- 

■             :,\- 

sMi  a 

200      wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

"  If,  hitherto,  Clara  de  HakliTuar,  I  have  been  minute  in  the  detail  ef  all 
that  attended  my  connection  with  your  mother,  it  has  been  with  a  view  to 
prove  to  you  how  deeply  I  have  been  injured ;  but  I  have  now  arrived  at  a 
part  of  my  history,  when  to  linger  on  the  past  would  goad  me  into  madness, 
and  render  me  unfit  for  the  purpose  to  which  I  have  devoted  myself. 

•'  Will  you  credit  the  monstrous  truth,"  he  added,  in  a  tierce  but  composed 
whisper,  while  he  bent  eagei'ly  over  the  form  of  the  trembling  yet  attentive 
girl,  "  when  I  tell  you  that,  on  my  return  from  the  fotal  expedition,  during  my 
continuance  on  which  her  image  had  never  once  been  absent  from  my  mind,  I 
found  Clara  Beverley  the  wife  of  De  Haldimar '?  To  what  satanic  arts  so  cal- 
culating a  villain  could  have  recourse  to  effect  his  object  I  know  not ;  bat  it  is 
not  the  less  true,  that  she,  from  whom  mj^  previous  history  must  have  taught 
you  to  expect  the  purity  of  intention  and  conduct  of  an  angel,  became  his 
wife, — and  I,  a  being  accursed  among  men."  Here  the  agitation  of  Wacousta 
became  terrific.  The  laboring  of  his  chest  was  like  that  of  one  convulsed  with 
some  racking  agonj^ ;  and  the  swollen  veins  and  arteries  of  his  head  seemed  ta 
threaten  the  extinction  of  life  in  some  fearful  paroxysm.  At  lengh  he  burst 
into  a  violent  fit  of  tears,  more  appalling,  in  one  of  his  iron  nature,  than  the 
fury  which  had  preceded  it, — and  it  was  many  minutes  before  he  could  so  far 
compose  himself  as  to  resume. 

"  Think  not,  Clara  de  Haldimar,  I  speak  without  the  proof  Her  o\\ti  words 
confessed,  her  own  lips  avowed  it,  and  yet  I  neither  slew  her,  nor  her  para- 
mour, nor  myself.  On  my  return  to  the  regiment  I  had  flown  to  the  cottage, 
on  the  wings  of  the  most  impatient  and  tender  love  that  ever  filled  the  bosom 
of  man  for  woman.  To  my  enquiries  the  landlady  replied,  that  my  cousin  had 
been  married  two  days  previously,  by  the  military  chaplain,  to  a  liandsome 
young  officer,  who  had  visited  her  soon  after  my  departure,  and  was  constantly 
with  her  from  that  moment ;  and  that  immediately  after  the  ceremony  they 
had  left,  but  she  knew  not  whither.  Wild,  desperate,  almost  bereft  of  reason, 
and  with  a  heart  bounding  against  my  bosom,  as  if  each  agonising  throb  were 
to  be  its  last,  I  ran  like  a  maniac  back  into  the  town,  nor  paused  till  1  found 
myself  in  the  presence  of  3'our  flither.  My  mind  was  a  volcano,  but  still  I  at- 
tempted to  be  calm,  even  while  I  charged  him,  in  the  most  outrageous  terms, 
with  his  villany.  Deny  it  he  could  not ;  but.  far  from  excusing  it.  he  boldly 
avowed  and  justified  the  step  he  had  taken,  intimating,  with  a  smile  full  of 
meaning,  there  was  nothing  in  a  connection  with  the  family  of  De  Haldimar 
to  reflect  disgrace  on  the  cousin  of  Sir  Ileginald  IMorton ;  and  that  the  highest 
compliment  he  could  paj^  his  friend  was  to  attach  himself  to  one  whom  that 
friend  had  declared  to  be  so  near  a  relative  of  his  own.  There  was  a  coldness 
of  taunt  in  these  remarks,  that  implied  his  sense  of  the  deception  I  had  prac- 
tised on  him,  in  regard  to  the  true  nature  of  the  relationship ;  and  for  a  mo- 
ment, while  my  hand  firmly  grasped  the  hilt  of  my  sword,  I  hesitated  wliether 
I  should  not  cut  him  down  at  ray  feet :  I  had  self-command,  however,  to  ab- 
stain from  the  outrage,  and  I  l:^ve  often  since  regretted  I  had.  31}-  own  blood 
could  have  but  been  spilt  in' aionemcnt  for  my  just  revenge;  and  as  for  the 
obloquy  attached  to  tlie  memory  of  the  assassin,  it  could  not  have  been  more 
bitter  than  that  which  has  followed  me  through  life. 

"  For  weeks  I  was  insensible  to  anything  but  the  dreadful  shock  my  soul 
had  sustained.  A  heavy  stupor  weighed  me  down,  and  for  a  period  it  was 
supposed  my  reason  was  overthrown :  no  such  mercy  was  resen-ed  for  me. 

The  regiment  had  quitted  the  Highlands,  and  were  now  stationary  in . 

whither  I  had  accompanied  it  in  arrest.  The  restoration  of  my  faculties  was 
the  signal  for  new  persecutions.  Scarcely  had  the  medical  officers  reported 
me  fit  to  sustain  the  ordeal,  when  a  court-martial  was  assembled  to  try  me 


wacousta;     or,    the    proi'Hecy,  201 

on  a  variety  of  charges.  Who  was  my  prosecutor  ?  Tiisten,  Clara,"  and  he 
shook  her  Violently  by  the  arm.  •'  He  who  had  robbed  me  of  all  that  gave 
value  to  life  and  incentive  to  honor, — he  who,  under  the  guise  of  friendship, 
had  stolen  into  the  Eden  of  my  love,  and  left  it  barrenless  of  affection.  In  a 
w^ord,  yon  detested  governor,  to  whose  inhuman  cruelty  even  the  son  of  my 
brother  has,  by  some  strange  fatality  of  coincidence,  so  receutly  fallen  a 
second  saoritice.  Curses,  curses  on  him,"  he  pursued  with  frightful  vehemence, 
half  rising  as  ho  spoke,  and  holding  forth  his  right  arm  in  a  menacing  atti- 
tude; "  bu<"  th<i  hour  of  retribution  is  at  hand,  and  revenge,  the  exclusive 
passion  of  the  gods,  shall  at  length  be  mine.  In  no  other  country  in  the 
world — under  no  other  circumstances  than  the  present — could  I  have  so  se- 
cured it. 

"  What  were  the  charges  preferred  against  me  ?"  he  continued,  with  a  vio- 
lence that  almost  petrified  the  unhappy  girl.  "  Hear  them,  and  judge  whether 
I  have  not  cause  for  the  inextinguishable  hate  that  rankles  at  my  heart. 
Every  trifling  disobedience  of  orders — every  partial  neglect  of  duty  that  could 
be  raked  up — was  tortured  into  a  specific  charge  ;  and,  as  I  have  already  ad- 
mitted, I  had  latterly  transgressed  not  a  little  in  this  respect,  these  were  nu- 
merous enough.  Yet  they  were  but  preparatory  to  others  of  greater  magni- 
tude. Will  you,  can  you  believe  anything  half  so  atrocious,  as  that  your 
father  should  have  called  on  a  petty  officer  not  only  to  prove  some  violent  and 
insubordinate  language  I  had  used  in  reference  to  the  commanding  ofticer  in 
my  own  rooms,  but  also  to  substantiate  a  charge  of  cowardice,  grounded  on 
the  unwillingness  I  had  expressed  to  accompany  the  expedition,  and  the  ex- 
traordinary trepidation  I  had  evinced  while  preparing  for  the  duty,  manifested, 
as  it  was  stated  to  be,  by  the  various  errors  he  had  rectified  in  my  equipment 
with  his  own  hand  ?  Yes,  even  this  pitiful  charge  was  one  of  the  many  pre- 
ferred ;  but  the  severest  was  that  which  he  had  the  unblushing  effrontery  to 
make  the  subject  of  public  investigation,  rather  than  of  private  redress — the 
blow  I  had  struck  him  in  his  own  apartments.  And  who  was  his  witness  in 
this  monstrous  charge  ? — your  mother,  Clara.  Yea,  I  stood  as  a  criminal  in 
her  presence  ;  and  yet  she  came  forward  to  tender  an  evidence  that  was  to 
consign  me  to  a  disgraceful  sentence.  My  vile  prosecutor  had,  moreover,  the 
encouragement  and  sanction  of  his  colonel  throughout,  and  by  him  he  was 
upheld  in  every  contemptible  charge  his  ingenuity  could  devise.  Do  you  not 
anticipate  the  result  ? — I  was  found  guilty  and  dismissed  the  service. 

"  What  agonies  of  mind  I  endured, — what  burning  tears  I  nightly  shed 
upon  a  pillow  I  was  destined  to  press  in  freezing  loneliness, — what  hours  of 
solitude  I  passed,  far  from  the  haunts  of  my  fellow-men,  and  forming  plans 
of  vengeance, — it  would  take  much  longer  time  to  relate  than  I  have  actually 
bestowed  on  my  unhappy  history.  To  comprehend  their  extent  and  force 
you  must  understand  the  heart  of  fire  in  which  the  deep  sense  of  injury  had 
taken  root ;  but  the  night  wears  away,  and  briefly  told  must  be  the  remainder 
of  my  tale.  The  rebellion  of  Forty-Five  saw  me  in  arms  in  the  Scottish  ranks; 
and,  in  one  instance,  opposed  to  the  regiment  from  which  I  had  been  so  igno- 
miniously  expelled.  Never  did  revenge  glow  like  a  living  fire  in  the  heart  of 
a  man  as  it  did  in  mine  ;  for  the  effect  of  my  long  brooding  in  solitude  had 
been  to  inspire  me  with  a  detestation,  not  merely  for  those  who  had  been 
most  rancorous  in  their  enmity,  but  for  everything  that  wore  the  uniform, 
from  the  commanding  officer  down  to  the  meanest  private.  Everj-  blow  that 
I  dealt,  every  life  that  I  sacrificed,  was  an  insult  washed  away  from  my  at- 
tainted honor ;  but  him  whom  1  most  sought  in  the  melee  I  never  could 
reach.  At  length  the  corps  to  which  I  had  attached  myself  was  repulsed,  and 
I  saw,  with  rage  in  my  heart,  that  my  enemy  stiU  Uved  to  triumph  in  the 
jfruit  of  his  villany. 

"  Although  I  was  grown  considerabl}'-  in  stature  at  this  peiiod,  and  was 
otherwise  greatly  altered  in  appearance,  I  had  been  recognised  in  the  action 
by  numbers  of  the  regiment ;  and,  indeed,  more  than  once  I  had,  in  the  in- 


202  w  A  cots  T  A  ;     o  r. ,    r  h  i;    p  r  o  p  h  k  c  v  . 

toxication  of  my  lagc,  accompanied  the  blow  that  slew  or  maimed  one  of  my 
former  associates  with  a  declaration  of  the  name  of  him  who  inflicted  it.  The 
consequence  was,  I  was  denounced  as  a  rebel  and  an  outlaw,  and  a  price  was 
put  upon  my  head.  Accustomed,  however,  as  I  had  ever  boon,  to  rocks  and 
fastnesses,  I  had  no  difficult}'  in  eluding  the  vigilance  of  those  M-ho  were  sent 
in  pursuit  of  me  ;  and  thus  compelled  to  live  wholly  apart  from  my  species.  I 
at  length  learned  to  hate  them,  and  to  know  that  man  is  the  only  enemy  of 
man  upon  earth. 

"  A  change  now  came  over  the  spirit  of  my  vangeance  ;  for  about  this  period 
your  mother  died.  She  was  the  only  being  I  had  ever  looked  upon  with 
fondness  ;  and  deeply  even  as  I  had  been  injured  by  her,  I  wept  her  memory 
with  many  a  scalding  tear.  This,  however,  only  increased  my  hatred  for  him 
who  had  rioted  in  her  beauty  and  supplanted  me  in  her  devotedness.  I  had 
the  means  of  learning,  occasionally,  all  that  passed  m  the  regiment,  and  the 
same  account  that  brought  me  the  news  of  your  mother's  death,  also  gave  me 
the  intelligence  that  three  children  had  been  the  fruit  of  her  union  with  De 
Haldimar.  I  heard  moreover,  (and  this  gave  me  pleasure,)  that  their  father 
doated  on  them ;  and  from  that  moment  I  resolved  to  turn  his  cup  of  jo}^  into 
bitterness,  even  as  he  had  turned  mine.  I  no  longer  sought  his  hfe  ;  for  the 
jealousy  that  had  half  impelled  that  thirst  existed  no  longer :  but,  deeming 
his  cold  nature  at  least  accessible  through  his  parental  affection,  I  was  resolved 
that  in  his  children  he  should  suffer  a  portion  of  the  agonies  he  had  inflicted 
on  me.  I  waited,  however,  until  they  should  be  grown  up  to  an  age  when 
the  heart  of  the  parent  would  be  more  likely  to  mourn  their  loss  ;  and  then  I 
was  determined  my  vengeance  should  be  complete. 

"  Circumstances  singularly  favored  m}'-  design.  Many  years  afterwards,  the 
regiment  formed  one  of  the  expeditions  against  Quebec  under  General  Wolfe. 
They  were  commanded  by  your  father,  who,  in  the  course  of  promotion,  had 
obtained  the  lieutenant-colonelcy ;  and  I  observed  by  the  army  list,  that  a 
subaltern  of  the  same  name,  whom  I  presumed  to  be  his  eldest  son,  was  in  the 
corps.  Here  was  a  lield  for  my  vengeance  beyond  any  I  could  have  hoped  for. 
I  contrived  to  pass  over  into  Cornwall,  the  ban  of  outlawry  being  still  unre- 
pealed :  and  having  procui-ed  from  my  brother  a  sum  sufficient  for  my  neces- 
sities, and  bade  him  an  eternal  farewell,  embaiked  in  a  fishing-boat  for  the 
coast  of  France,  whence  I  subsequently  took  a  passage  to  this  country.  At 
Montreal  I  found  the  French  general,  who  gladly  received  my  allegiance  as  a 
subject  of  France,  and  gave  me  a  commission  in  one  of  the  provincial  corps 
that  usually  served  in  concert  with  our  Indian  allies.  With  the  general  I  soon 
became  a  favorite ;  and,  as  a  mark  of  his  confidence,  at  the  attack  on  Quebec, 
he  entrusted  me  with  the  command  of  a  detached  irregular  force,  consisting 
partly  of  Canadians  and  partly  of  Indians,  intended  to  harrass  the  flanks  of 
the  British  army.  This  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  being  at  whatever  point  of 
the  field  I  might  think  most  favorable  to  my  design ;  and  T  was  too  familiar 
with  the  detested  uniform  of  the  regiment  not  to  be  able  to  distinguish 
it  from  aftxr.  In  a  word,  Clara,  for  I  am  weary  of  my  own  tale,  in  that 
engagement  I  had  an  opportunity  of  recognising  your  brother.  lie  struck 
me  by  his  martial  appearance  as  he  encouraged  his  grenadiers  to  the  attack  of 
the  French  columns  ;  and  as  I  turned  my  eye  upon  him  in  admiration,  I  was 
stung  to  the  soul  by  his  resemblance  to  his  father.  Vengeance  thrilled 
throughout  every  fibre  of  my  frame  at  that  moment.  The  opportunity  I  had 
long  sought  was  at  length  arrived ;  and  already,  in  anticipation,  I  enjoyed  the 
conquest  his  fall  would  occasion  to  my  enemy.  I  rushed  within  a  few  feet  of 
my  victmi ;  but  the  bullet  aimed  at  his  heart  was  received  in  the  breast  of  a 
faithful  soldier,  who  had  flown  to  intercept  it.  How  I  cursed  the  meddler  for 
his  officiousuess !" 

"Oh,  that  soldier  was  your  nephew,"  eagerly  interrupted  Clara,  pointing  to- 
wards her  companion,  who  had  fallen  into  a  profound  slumber,  "  the  husband 
of  this  unfortujiate  woman.     Frank  Hallowy  (for  by  that  name  was  he  aloue 


W  A  C  0  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE     PROPHECY.  203 

known  in  the  regiment)  loved  my  brother  as  though  he  had  been  of  the  Riiino 
blood.  Ilo  it  was  who  Hew  to  receive  the  ball  that  was  destined  for  another. 
But  I  nursed  him  on  his  couch  of  suflerinp:,  and  with  my  own  hands  prepared 
his  food  and  dressed  his  wound.  Oh,  if  pity  can  touch  your  heart  (and  I  will 
not  beheve  that  a  heart  that  once  f-lt  as  you  say  yours  has  felt,  can  be  inac- 
cessible to  pity,)  let  the  recollection  of  your  nephew's  devotedness  to  my 
mother's  child  disarm  you  of  vengeance,  and  induce  you  to  restore  us  !" 

"  Never !"  thundered  VVacousta. — '•  never !  The  very  circumstp.nce  you  have 
now  named  is  an  addition;*!  incentive  to  my  vengeance.  M}-  iiephcv/  saved  the 
life  of  your  brother  at  the  hazard  of  his  own ;  and  how  has  he  been  rewarded 
for  the'  i;euerous  deed  ?  By  an  igiiuminious  death,  intiicted,  perhaps,  for  some 
oltence  not  more  dishonoring  than  those  which  have  thrown  me  an  outcast 
upon  these  vrilds ;  and  that  at  the  command  and  in  the  presence  of  the  father 
of  him  whose  life  he  was  fooi  enough  to  preserve.  Yet,  what  but  ingratitude 
of  the  grossest  nature  could  a  Jlorton  c:<pect  at  the  hands  of  the  fiilso  family 
of  De  Haidimar !  They  were  destined  to  be  our  bane,  and  well  have  they  ful- 
filled the  end  for  which  they  were  created." 

'•  Almighty  Providence,"  aspirated  the  sinking  Clara,  as  she  turned  her 
streaming  eyes  to  heaven ;  "  ran  it  be  that  the  human  heart  can  undergo  such 
change  I  Can  this  be  the  being  who  once  loved  my  mother  with  a  purity  and 
tenderness  of  alfection  that  angels  themselves  might  hallov*'  with  approval ;  or 
is  all  tiiat  I  have  heard  but  a  bewildering  dream  ?" 

••No,  Clara."  calmly  and  even  solemnly  returned  the  warrior;  "it  is  no 
dream,  but  a  reality — a  sad,  dreadful,  heart-rending  reality ;  yet  if  I  am  that 
altered  being,  to  whom  is  the  change  to  be  ascribed  ?  Who  turned  th.e  gene- 
rous current  of  my  blood  into  a,  river  of  overflowing  gall  ? — Your  father  ! 
But  these  are  idle  words.  What  I  have  been,  you  knovr;  what  I  now  am,  and 
through  what  agency  I  have  been  rendered  what  I  am,  you  know  also.  Not 
more  lixed  is  fote  than  my  purpose.  Yvrir  brother  files  even  on  the  spot  on 
which  my  nephew  died;  and  you,  Clara.,  shall  Ije  my  bride;  and  the  first 
thing  your  children  shall  be  taught  to  lisp  iniU  be  ciu'ses  on  the  vile  name  of 
De  Haidimar !" 

'•  Once  more,  in  the  name  of  my  sainted  mother,  I  implore  you  to  have 
merc3V'shriekril  *'  i-'  =  ■  ■  ; ''  la.  "Oh!"  she  continr,.'!  v.-ith  v(!iement  sup- 
plication, •■let  1  iriylove  be  brought  'a  :- ^  ,  i !  r  memory, 
that  your  heaii  '  ;  ;ind  cut  yourself  iioi  ',  nw;!.  i;,  from  your 
God,  by  the  commi.->;uu  uf  such  dreivdful  outrages.  Again,  1  conjure  you,  re- 
store us  to  my  ftither." 

•'  Never !"  savagely  repeated  Wacousta;  ■'•  I  have  passed  years  of  torture  in 
the  hope  of  such  an  hour  as  this ;  and  now  that  fruition  is  within  my  grasp, 
may  1  perish  if  1  forego  it !  Ha,  sir  !"  turning  fi-om  the  almost  fainting  Clara 
to  Sir  liverard,  who  had  listened  with  docp  attention  to  the  history  of  this  ex- 
traordinary man ; — -for  this,"  and  hi  ilnu-i  aside  the  breast  of  his  hunting 
coat,  exhibing  the  .scar  of  a  long  biii  Mqii  rliriai  wound, — for  this  do  you  owe 
me  a  severe  reckoning.  I  v.ould  recommend  you,  however," — and  he  spoke  in 
mockery, — ■•  v/hen  next  you  drive  a  weapon"  into  the  chest  of  an  unresisting 
enemy,  to  be  more  certain  of  yom-  aim.  Had  that  been  as  true  as  the  blow 
from  the  butt  of  yoiu-  rifle,  i  slioidd  not  have  lived  to  triumph  in  this  hour.  I 
little  deemed,"  he  pursued,  still  addressing  the  nearly  heart-broken  officer  in 
the  same  insolent  strain,  '•  that  ni}-  intrigue  with  that  dark-eyed  daughter  of 
the  old  Canadian  would  have  been  the  means  of  throwing  your  companion  so 
speedily  into  ni}'  power,  after  his  first  narrow  escape.  Your  disguise  was  well 
managed,  1  confess ;  and  but  that  there  is  an  instinct  about  me,  enabling  me 
to  discover  a  l)e  Haidimar,  aii  a  hound  does  the  deer,  by  scent,  you  might 
have  succeeded  in  passing  for  what  you  appeared.  "  But "  (and  his  tone  sud- 
denly changed  its  iiony  for  fierceness)  '"  to  the  point,  sir.  That  you  are  the 
lover  of  this  girl  I  clearly  peioeive,  and  death  were  preferable  to  a  life  embit- 
tered by  the  recollection  that  she  whom  we  love  reposes  in  the  arms  of  another. 


204  wacousta;or,    the    prophecy 

No  such  kindness  is  meant  you,  however.  To-morrow  you  shall  return  to  the 
fort ;  and,  when  there,  you  may  tell  your  colonel,  that  in  exchange  for  a  cer- 
tain miniature  and  letters,  which  in  the  hurry  of  departure,  I  dropped  in  his 
apartment,  some  ten  days  since,  Sir  Reginald  Morton,  the  outlaw,  has  taken 
his  daughter  Clara  to  wife,  but  without  the  solemnisation  of  those  tedious 
forms  that  bound  himself  in  accursed  union  with  her  mother.  (3h  !  what 
would  I  not  give,"  he  continued  bitterly,  "  to  witness  the  pang  inflicted  on  his 
false  heart,  when  first  the  damning  truth  arrests  his  ear.  Never  did  I  know 
the  triumph  of  my  power  until  now ;  for  what  revenge  can  be  half  so  sweet 
as  that  which  attains  a  loathed  enemy  through  the  dishonor  of  his  cliild? 
But,  hark  !  what  mean  those  sounds  ?" 

A  loud  yelling  was  now  heard  at  some  distance  in  rear  of  the  tent.  Pre- 
sentl}'  the  bounding  of  manj-  feet  on  the  turf  was  distinguishable ;  and  then, 
at  intervals,  the  peculiar  cry  that  announces  the  escape  of  a  prisoner.  Wa- 
cousta  started  to  his  feet,  and  fiercely  grasping  his  tomahawk,  advanced  to 
the  front  of  the  tent,  where  he  seemed  to  listen  for  a  moment  attentively,  as 
if  endeavoring  to  catch  the  direction  of  the  pursuit. 

"  Ha  !  by  heaven !"  he  exclaimed,  "  there  must  be  treacher}^  in  this,  or  yon 
slippery  captain  would  not  so  soon  be  at  his  flight  again,  hound  as  I  had  bound 
him."  Then  uttering  a  deafening  yell,  and  rushing  past  Sir  Everard,  near 
whom  he  paused  an  instant,  as  if  undecided  whether  he  should  not  first  dis- 
pose of  him,  as  a  precautionary  measure,  he  flew  with  the  speed  of  an  antelope 
in  the  direction  in  which  he  was  guided  by  the  gradually  receding  sounds. 

"  The  knife.  Miss  de  Haldimar,"  exclaimed  Sir  Everard,  after  a  few  mo- 
ments of  breathless  and  intense  anxiety.  "  See.  there  is  one  m  the  belt  that 
Ellen  Ilalloway  has  girt  around  her  loins.  Quick,  for  heaven's  sake,  quick ; 
our  only  chance  is  in  this." 

With  an  activity  arising  from  despair,  the  unhappy  Clara  sprang  from  the 
rude  couch  on  which  she  had  been  left  bj^  Wacousta,  and  stooping  over  the 
form  of  the  maniac,  extended  her  hand  to  remove  the  weapon  from  her  side  j 
but  Ellen,  who  liad  been  awakened  from  her  long  slumber  by  the  yells  just 
uttered,  seemed  resolute  to  prevent  it.  A  struggle  for  its  possession  now  en- 
sued between  these  frail  and  delicate  beings  ;  in  wliich  Clara,  however,  had  the 
advantage,  not  only  from  the  recumbent  position  of  her  opponent,  but  from 
the  greater  security  of  her  grasp.  At  length,  with  a  violent  effort,  she  con- 
trived to  disengage  it  from  the  sheath,  around  which  Ellen  had  closelj-  clasped 
both  her  hands  ;  but,  with  the  quickness  of  thought,  the  latter  were  again 
clenched  round  the  naked  blade,  and  without  any  other  evident  motive  than 
what  originated  in  the  obstinacy  of  her  madness,  the  unfortunate  woman 
fiercely  attempted  to  wrest  it  way.  In  the  act  of  doing  so,  her  hands  were 
dreadfully  cut ;  and  Clara,  shocked  at  the  sight  of  the  blood  she  had  been  the 
means  of  shedding,  lost  all  the  energy  she  had  summoned,  and  sunk  senseless 
at  the  feet  of  maniac,  who  now  began  to  utter  the  most  piteous  cries. 

"  Oh,  God,  we  are  lost,"  exclaimed  Sir  Everard  ;  "  the  voice  of  that  wretch- 
ed woman  has  alarmed  our  enemy,  and  even  now  I  hear  him  approaching. 
Quick,  Clara,  give  me  the  knife.     But  no,  it  is  now  too  late  ;  he  is  here." 

At  that  instant,  the  dark  form  of  a  warrior  rushed  noiselessly  to  the  spot  on 
which  he  stood.  The  officer  turned  his  eyes  in  desperation  on  his  enemy,  but 
a  single  glance  was  sufficient  to  assure  him  it  was  not  Wacousta.  The  In- 
dian paused  not  in  his  course,  but  passing  close  round  the  tree  to  which  the 
baronet  was  attached,  made  a  circular  movement,  that  brought  him  in  a  fine 
with  the  chrection  that  had  been  taken  by  his  enemy  ;  and  again  they  were 
left  alone. 

A  new  fear  now  oppressed  the  heart  of  the  unfortunate  Vallctort,  even  to 

agony :  Clara  still  lay  senseless,  speechless  before  him  ;  and  his  impression 

was,  that,  in  the  struggle,  Ellen  Halloway  had  murdered  her.     The  latter  yet 

continued  her  cries  ;  and,  as  she  held  up  her  hands,  he  could  see  by  the  fire- 

j   light  they  were  covered  with  blood.     An  instinctive  impiUsc  caused  him  to 


wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy 


205 


bound  forward  to  the  assistance  of  the  motionless  Clara. ;  when,  to  his  infinite 
surprise  and  joy,  he  discovered  the  cord,  which  had  bound  him  to  the  tree,  to 
be  severed.  The  Indian  who  had  just  passed  had  evidently  been  his  deliverer; 
and  a  sudden  Hash  of  recollection  recalled  the  figure  of  the  warrior  that  had 
escaped  from  the  schooner  and  was  supposed  to  have  leaped  into  the  conoc  of 
Oucanasta  at  the  moment  when  Madeline  de  Ilaldimar  was  removed  into  that 
of  the  Canadian.  . 

In  a  transport  of  conflictins:  feclinii-s,  Sir  Evcrard  now  raised  the  insensible 
Clara  from  the  ground  ;  and,  having  satisfied  liimself  she  had  sustained  no 
serious  injury,  prepared  for  a  llight  which  he  fell  to  be  desperate,  if  not  alto- 
gether hopeless.  There  was  not  a  moment  to  be  lost,  for  the  cries  of  the 
wretched  Ellen  increased  in  violence,  as  she  seemed  sensible  she  was  about 
to  be  left  utterly  alone  ;  and  ever  and  anon,  although  afar  off,  yet  evidently 
drawing  nearer,  was  to  be  heard  the  fierce  denouncing  yell  of  Wacousta. 
The  spot  on  which  the  ofticer  stood,  was  not  far  from  that  whence  his  unfor- 
tunate friend  had  commenced  his  flight  on  the  first  memorable  occasion ;  and 
as  the  moon  shone  bright!}-  in  the  cloudless  heavens,  there  could  be  no  mis- 
take in  the  course  he  was  to  pursue.  Dashing  down  the  steep,  therefore, 
with  all  the  speed  his  beloved  burden  would  enable  him  to  attain,  he  made 
immediatel}-  for  the  bridge  over  which  his  only  chance  of  safety  lay. 

It  unfortunately  happened,  however,  that,  induced  either  by  the  malice  of 
her  insanity,  or  really  terrified  at  the  loneliness  of  her  position,  the  wretched 
Ellen  Ilalloway  had  "likewise  quitted  the  tent,  and  now  followed  close  in  the 
rear  of  the  fugitives,  still  uttering  the  same  piercing  cries  of  anguish.  The 
voice  of  "Wacousta  was  also  again  heard  in  the  distance  ;  and  Sir  Everard  had 
the  inexpressible  horror  to  find  that,  guided  by  the  shrieks  of  the  maniac 
woman,  he  was  now  shaping  his  course,  not  to  the  tent  where  he  had  left  his 
prisoners,  but  in  an  oblique  direction  towards  the  bridge,  where  he  evidently 
hoped  to  intercept  them.  Aware  of  the  extreme  disadvantage  under  which 
he  labored  in  a  competition  of  speed  with  his  active  enemy,  the  unhappy  offi- 
cer would  have  here  terminated  the  struggle,  had  he  not  been  partially  sus- 
tained by  the  hope  that  the  detachment  prayed  for  by  De  Ilaldimar,  through 
the  friendly  young  chief,  to  whom  he  owed  his  own  liberation,  might  be  about 
this  time  on  its  way  to  attempt  their  rescue.  This  thought  supported  his  fal- 
tering resolution,  although  nearly  exhausted  with  his  efforts — compelled,  as 
he  was,  to  sustain  the  motionless  form  of  the  slowly  reviving  Clara;  and  he 
again  braced  himself  to  the  unequal  flight.  The  moon  "still  shone  beautifully 
bright,  and  he  could  now  distinctly  see  the  bridge  over  which  he  was  to  pass ; 
but  notwithstanding  he  strained  his  eyes  as  he  advanced,  no  vestige  of  a 
British  uniform  was  to  be  seen  in  the  open  space  that  lay  beyond.  Once  he 
turned  to  regard  his  pursuers.  Ellen  was  a  few  yards  only  in  his  rear  ;  and 
considerably  beyond  her  rose,  in  tall  relief  against  the  heavens,  the  gigantic 
form  of  the  warrior.  The  pursuit  of  the  latter  was  now  conducted  with  a 
silence  that  terrified  even  more  than  the  yells  he  had  previously  uttered  ;  and 
he  gained  so  rapidly  on  his  victims,  that  the  tread  of  his  large  feet  was  now 
distincth'  audible.  Again  the  officer,  with  despair  in  his  heart,  made  the 
most  incredible  exertions  to  reach  the  bridge,  without  seeming  to  reflect  that, 
even  when  there,  no  security  was  olFered  him  against  his  enemy.  Once,  as  he 
drew  nearer,  he  fancied  he  saw  the  dark  heads  of  human  beings  peering  from 
under  the  part  of  the  arch  which  had  afforded  cover  to  De  Ilaldimar  and  him- 
self on  the  memorable  occasion  of  their  departure  with  the  Canadian  ;  and, 
convinced  that  the  warriors  of  Wacousta  had  been  sent  there  to  lie  in  ambus- 
cade and  intercept  his  retreat,  his  hopes  were  utterly  paralysed ;  and  although 
he  stooped  not,  his  flight  was  rather  mechanical  than  the  fruit  of  any  syste- 
matic plan  of  escape. 

He  had  now  gained  the  extremity  of  the  bridge,  with  Ellen  Halloway  and 
Wacousta  close  in  his  rear,  when  suddenly  the  heads  of  many  men  were  once 
more  distinguishable,  even  in  the  shadow  of  the  arch  that  overhung  the  sands 


208  WACO  IT  ST  a;     or,    the     propmecy. 

of  the  rivpr.  Tlirc-e  individt'.als  detaohed  themsc-lrcs  from  the  CTOiip.  and  leap- 
ing; upon  the  farther  extremity  of  the  bridge,  moved  rapidiy  to  meet  him. 
Meanwhile  the  baronet  had  stopped  suddenly,  as  if  in  doubt  whether  to  ad- 
vance or  recede.  His  suspense  was  but  momentary.  Although  the  persons 
of  the«e  men  were  disguised  iis  Indian  warriors,  the  broad  moonlight  that 
beamed  full  on  their  countenances  disclosed  the  well-remembered  features  of 
Bles.sington,  Erskine,  and  Charles  de  Haldimar.  The  latter  sprang  before  his 
companions,  and,  uttering  a  cry  of  joy,  sank  in  speechless  agony  on  the  neck 
of  his  still  unconscious  sister. 

"  For  God's  sake,  free  me,  De  Haldimar !"  exclaimed  the  excited  baronet, 
disengaging  his  charge  from  the  embrace  of  his  friend.  "  This  is  no  moment 
for  gratulation.  Erskine,  Blessington,  see  you  not  who  is  behind  me  ?  Be 
upon  your  guard  ;  de^fend  j'our  lives  !"  And  as  he  spoke,  he  rushed  forward 
with  faint  and  tottering  steps  to  place  his  companions  between  the  unhappy 
girl  and  the  danger  that  thresitened  her. 

The  swords  of  the  officers  were  drawn  ;  but  instead  of  advancing  upon  the 
formidable  beins;,  who  stood  as  if  paralysed  at  this  unexpected  rencontre,  the 
two  seniors  contented  themselves  with  assuming  a  defensive  attitude, — retir- 
ing slowly  and  gradually  towards  tlie  other  extremity  of  the  bridge. 

Overcome  bj'-  his  emotion.  Charles  de  Haldimar  had  not  noticed  this  action 
of  his  companions,  and  stood  apparently  riveted  to  the  spot.  The  voice  of 
Blessington  calling  on  him  by  name  to  retire,  seemed  to  arouse,  the  dormant 
consciousness  of  the  unhappy  maniac.  She  uttered  a  piercing  shriek,  and 
springing  forward,  sank  on  her  knees  at  his  feet,  exclaiming,  as  she  forcibly 
detained  him  by  his  dress — 

"  Almighty  Heaven  !  where  am  I  ?  stirely  that  was  Captain  Blessington's 
kind  voice  I  heard  ;  and  you — you  are  Charles  de  Haldimar.     Oh  !  save  my 

husband  ;  plead  for  him  with  your  father  ! but  no,"  she  continued  wildly, 

— "  he  is  dead — he  is  murdered !  Behold  these  hands  all  covered  with  his 
blood ! " 

"  Ha  !  another  De  Haldimar  !"  exclaimed  Wacousta,  recovering  his  slum- 
bering energies.  "  this  spot  seems  indeed  fated  for  our  meeting.  More  than 
thrice  have  I  been  baulked  of  my  just  revenge,  but  now  will  I  secure  it. 
Thus,  Ellen,  do  I  avenge  your  husband's  and  my  nephew's  death.  My  own 
wrongs  demand  another  sacrifice.  But,  ha  !  where  is  she  ?  where  is  Clara  ? 
where  is  my  bride  ?" 

Bounding  over  the  *  ill-fated  De  Haldimar.  who  lay,  even  in  death,  firmly 
clasped  in  the  embrace  of  the  wi'etched  Ellen,  the  fierce  man  dashed  furiously 
forward  to  renew  his  pursuit  of  the  fugitives.  But  suddenly  the  extremity 
of  the  bridge  was  filled  with  a  column  of  armed  men,  that  kept  issuing  from 
the  arch  beneath.  Sensible  of  his  danger,  he  sought  to  make  good  his  re- 
treat ;  but  when  he  turned  for  the  purpose,  the  same  formidable  array  met 
his  view  at  the  opposite  extremity ;  and  both  parties  now  rapidly  advanced  in 
double  quick  time,  evidently  with  a  view  of  closing  upon  and  taking  him  pri- 
soner. In  this  delemma,  his  only  hope  was  in  the  assistance  that  might  be 
rendered  him  by  his  warriors,  A  3'^ell,  so  terrific  as  to  be  distinctly  heard  in 
the  fort  itself,  burst  from  his  vast  chest,  and  rolled  in  prolonged  echoes 
through  the  forest.  It  was  faintly  answered  from  the  encampment,  and  met 
by  deep  but  noiseless  curses  from  the  exasperated  soldiery,  whom  the  sight  of 
their  murdered  officer  was  momentarily  working  into  frenz}-. 

"  Kill  him  not,  for  your  lives  ! — I  command  you,  men,  kill  him  not  !•'  mut- 
tered Captain  Blessington  with  suppressed  passion,  as  his  troops  were  prepar- 
ing to  immolate  him  on  their  clustering  bayonets.  "  Such  a  death  wei-e.  in- 
deed, mercy  to  such  a  villain." 

"  Ha  !  hii !"  laughed  Wacousta  in  better  scorn  ;  "  who  is  there  of  all  your 
accursed  regiment" who  will  dare  to  take  him  alive  ?"  Then  firandishing  his 
toraahav/k  r.round  him,  to  prevent  their  finally  closing,  be  dealt  his  blows 
with  inich  a^stonishing  velocity,  that  no  unguarded  point  was  Mi  about  his  per- 


W  A  C  O  TJ  S  T  A  ;      OR,      T  HE     PROPHECY.  '207 

son  ;  and  more  than  one  isoldicr  wus  brought  to  the  earth  in  the  covirsu  of  the 
unequal  strugoio. 

a  J3y  G_ci  i"  said  Captain  Erskine,  "  are  the  two  best  companies  of  the  re- 
giment to  be  kept  at  bay  by  a  single  desperado  ?  Shame  on  ye,  felldVs  !  If 
liis  hands  are  too  many  "for  you,  lay  him  by  the  heels."  , 

This  ruse  wan  practised  with  success.  In  attempting  to  defend  himself  from 
the  attack  of  those  who  sought  to  throw  him  dowfi,  the  warrior  necessarily  left 
his  upptr  perj;on  exposed  ;  when  advantage  was  taken  to  close  with  him  and 
deprive  him  of  the  play  of  his  arms.  It  was  not,  however,  without  consider- 
able dilnculty.  that  thej^  succeeded  in  disarming  and  binding  his  hands ;  after 
which  a  strong  cord  being  fastened  round  his  waist,  ho  was  tightly  lashed  to  a 
gun,  which,  contrary  to  the  original  iutonaon  oi'  I'lo  ^ovcriiur,  had  boon  sent 
out  with  the  expedition.  The  roiro:\i  oT  ilio  detachment  then  (?onunonced  ra- 
pidly ;  but  it  was  not  withoi'  >  pursued  by  the  band  of  warriors 
the  yell  of  \Vacousta  had  su;.  inn-suit,  that  they  finally  gained  the 
fort;  under  what  feelings  of  ...;..,.  ...  llie  late  of  an  officer  so  beloved,  we 
leave  it  to  cm-  readers  to  imagine. 


CIIAPTEH  XXXIII. 

The  morning  of  the  next  day  dawned  on  few  who  had  pressed  their  custo- 
mary couches — on  none,  whose  feverish  pulse  and  bloodshot  eye  failed  to 
attest  the  utter  sleeplessness  in  which  the  night  had  been  passed.  Numerous 
groups  of  men  were  to  Ije  seen  assembling  after  the  reveille,  in  various  parts 
of  the  barrack  square— those  wlio  had  borne  a  part  in  tlie  recent  expedition 
commingling  with  those  who  had  not,  and  recounting  to  the  latter,  with 
mournful  look  and  voice,  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  bereavement 
of  their  universally  lamented  officer.  As  none,  liowcver.  had  scon  the  blow 
struck  that  deprived  him  of  life,  although  each  had  hcavl  tiic  frantic  exclama- 
tions' of  a  voice  that  had  been  recognised  for  Ellen  HaiIo\\-;' y's.  iiu\ch  of  the 
marvello^fe  was  necessarily  mixed  up  with  truth  in  their  ;sanative. — some 
positively  affiriiii-  ^^  .  .'  "  "■ i' '  '  '  "•''  •■^-e  quitted  lii:-;  party,  and  de- 
claring that  no/,  ncy  could  have  transported 
him  unnoticed  In  i  i  .I'.vance.  they  had  beheld  him 
murdered.  The  .singular  ap^.  JcU^uioo  ol'  llil.n  Halloway  also,  at  that  moment, 
on  the  very  bridge  on  which  she  b.ad  pronounced  her  curse  on  the  famdy  of 
De  Haldimar,  and  in  company  with  the  terrible  and  mysterious  being  who 
had  borne  her  off  in  triumpli  on  that  occasion  to  the  forest,  and  under  cir- 
cumstances calculated  to  excite  the  most  superstitious  impicssions,  was  not 
without  its  weight  m  determining  their  rude  speculation-^ ;  and  all  concurred 
in  opinion,  that  the  death  of  the  unfortunate  young  ofuCT  was  a  judgment  on 
their  colonel  for  the  little  mercy  he  had  extended  to  the  noble-hearted  Hal- 
loway. 

Then  followed  allusion  to  their  captive,  whose  gigantic  stature  and  efforts 
at  escape,  tremendous  even  as  the  latter  were,  were  duly  exaggerated  by  each, 
with  the  very  laudable  view  of  claiming  a  proportionate  share  of  credit  for 
his  own  individual  exertions ;  and  man}-  and  various  were  the  opinions  ex- 
preiised  as  to  the  manner  of  death  he  should  be  made  to  suffer.  Among  the 
most  conspicuous  of  the  orators  were  those  with  whom  our  readers  have  al- 
ready made  slight  acquaintance  in  our  account  of  the  sortie  by  Captain  Ers- 
kine's  company  for  the  recovery  of  the  supposed  body  of  Frederick  de  Haldimar. 
One  was  for  impaling  him  alive,  and  setting  him  up  to  rot  on  the  platform 
above  the  gate.  Another  for  blowing  him  from  the  nm/.xle  of  a  twenty-four 
pounder,  into  the  centre  of  the  first  band  of  Indians  that  approached  the 
fort,  that  thus  perceiving  they  had  lost  the  .strength  and  sinew  of  their  cun- 


208  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

ning  war,  they  might  be  the  more  easily  induced  to  propose  terms  of  peace. 
A  third  was  of  opinion  he  ought  to  be  chained  to  the  top  of  the  flag-stafE",  as 
a  target,  to  be  shot  at  with  arrows  only,  contriving  never  to  touch  a  mortal 
part.  A  fourth  would  have  had  him  tied  naked  over  the  sharp  spikes  that 
constituted  the  chevaux-de-frize  garnishing  the  sides  of  the  drawbridge. 
Each  devised  some  new  death — proposed  some  new  torture  ;  but  all  were  of 
opinion,  that  simply  to  be  shot,  or  even  to  be  hanged,  was  too  merciful  a  pun- 
ishment for  the  wretch  who  had  so  wantonly  and  inhumanly  butchered  the 
kind-hearted,  gentle-mannered  officer,  whom  they  had  almost  all  known  and 
loved  from  his  very  boyhood  ;  and  they  looked  forward,  with  mingled  anxiety 
and  vengeance,  to  the  moment  when,  summoned  as  it  was  expected  he  shortly 
would  be,  before  the  assembled  garrison,  he  would  be  made  to  expiate  the 
atrocit}'  with  his  blood. 

While  the  men  thus  gave  indulgence  to  their  indignation  and  their  grief, 
their  officers  were  even  more  painfully  affected.  The  body  of  the  ill-fated 
Charles  had  been  borne  to  his  apartment,  where,  divested  of  its  disguise,  it 
had  again  been  inducted  in  such  apparel  as  was  deemed  suited  to  the  purpose. 
Extended  on  the  very  bed  on  which  he  lay  at  the  moment  when  she,  whose 
maniac  raving,  and  forcible  detention,  had  been  the  immediate  cause  of  his 
destruction,  had  preferred  her  wild  but  fruitless  supplication  for  mercJ^  he 
exhibited,  even  in  death,  the  same  delicate  beauty  that  had  characterised  him 
on  that  occasion  ;  yet,  with  a  mildness  and  serenity  of  expression  on  his  still, 
pale  features,  strongly  in  contrast  with  the  agitation  and  glow  of  excitement 
that  then  distinguished  him. 

Around  the  bed  were  grouped  nearly  all  the  officers,  standing  in  attitudes 
indicative  of  anxiety  and  interest,  and  gazing  mournfully  on  the  placid  fea- 
tures of  their  ill-fated  friend.  All,  on  entering,  moved  noiselessly  over  the 
rude  floor,  as  though  fearful  of  distm-bing  the  repose  of  one  who  merely  slum- 
bered ;  and  the  same  precaution  was  extended  to  the  brief  but  heart-felt 
€xpressions  of  sorrow  that  passed  from  one  to  tlie  other,  as  they  gazed  on  all 
that  remained  of  the  gentle  De  Haldimar. 

Gradually  tlie  officers  moved  away  in  the  same  noiseless  manner  they  had 
approached,  either  in  pursuance  of  their  several  duties,  or  to  make  their  toilet 
of  the  morning.  Two  only  of  their  number  remaining  near  tiic  couch  of 
death. 

"  Poor  unfortunate  De  Haldimar  !"  observed  one  of  these,  in  a  low  tone,  as 
if  speaking  to  himself;  "  too  fatally,  indeed,  have  your  forebodings  been  real- 
ized ;  and  what  I  considered  as  the  mere  despondency  of  a  mind  crushed  into 
feebleness  by  an  accumulation  of  suffering,  was,  after  all,  but  the  first  presen- 
timent of  a  death  no  human  power  might  avert.  By  heaven  !  I  would  give 
Tip  half  my  own  being  to  be  able  to  reanimate  that  form  once  more — but  the 
wish  is  vain." 

"  Who  shall  announce  the  intelligence  to  his  sister  ?"  sighed  his  companion. 
"  Never  will  that  already  nearly  heart-broken  girl  be  able  to  survive  the  shock 
of  her  brother's  death.  Blessington,  you  are  alone  fitted  to  such  a  task  ;  and, 
painful  as  it  is,  you  must  undertake  it.  Is  the  colonel  apprised  of  the  dread- 
ful truth,  do  you  know  ?" 

"  He  is.  It  was  told  him  at  the  moment  of  our  arrival  last  night ;  but 
from  the  little  outward  emotion  displayed  by  him,  I  should  be  tempted  to 
infer  he  had  almost  anticipated  some  such  catastrophe." 

'•  Poor,  poor  Charles  !"  bitterly  exclaimed  Sir  Everard  Valletort — for  it  was 
he.  •■  What  v/ould  I  not  give  to  recal  the  rude  manner  in  wliich  I  spurned 
you  from  me  last  night.  But,  alas  !  what  could  I  do.  laden  with  such  a  trust, 
and  pursued,  without  the  power  of  defence,  by  such  an  enemy  ?  Little,  in- 
deed, did  I  imagine  what  was  so  speedily  to  be  j'our  doom  !  Blessington,"  he 
pursued,  with  increased  emotion.  •'  it  grieves  me  to  wretchedness  to  think  that 
he,  whom  I  loved  as  though  he  had  been  my  twin  brother,  should  have  per- 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      209 

ished  with  his  last  thoughts,  perhaps,  lingering  on  the  seeming  unkindness 
with  which  1  had  greeted  him  after  so  anxious  an  absence." 

"  Nay,  if  there  be  blame,  it  must  attach  to  me,"  sorrowfully  observed  Cap- 
tain Blessington.  '•  Had  Erskinc  and  myself  not  retired  before  the  savage,  as 
we  did,  our  unfortunate  friend  would  in  all  ])robability  have  been  alive  at  this 
very  hour.  But  in  our  anxiety  to  draw  the  former  into  the  ambuscade  we 
had  prepared  for  him.  we  utterly  overlooked  that  Charles  was  not  retreating 
with  us." 

"  How  happened  it,"  demanded  Sir  Everard,  his  attention  naturally  directed 
to  the  subject  by  the  preceding  remarks,  "  that  you  lay  thus  in  ambuscade, 
when  the  object  of  the  expedition,  as  solicited  by  Frederick  de  Haldimar,  was 
an  attempt  to  reach  us  in  the  encampment  of  the  Indians  ?" 

'•  It  certainly  was  under  that  impression  we  left  the  fort ;  but  on  coming  to 
the  spot  where  the  friendly  Indian  lay  waiting  to  conduct  us,  he  proposed  the 
plan  we  subsequently  adopted  as  the  most  likely,  not  onlj^  to  secure  the  es- 
cape of  the  prisoners,  whom  he  pledged  himself  to  liberate,  but  to  defend  our- 
selves with  advantage  against  Wacousta  and  the  immediate  guard  set  over 
them,  should  they  follow  in  pursuit.  Erskine  approving,  as  well  as  myself, 
of  the  plan,  we  halted  at  the  bridge,  and  disposed  of  our  men  under  each  ex- 
tremit}- ;  so  that  if  attacked  by  the  Indians  in  front,  we  might  be  enabled  to 
throw  them  into  confusion  by  taking  them  in  rear,  as  they  flung  themselves 
upon  the  bridge.  The  event  seemed  to  answer  our  expectations.  The  alarm 
raised  in  the  encampment  satisfied  us  the  young  Indian  had  contrived  to  fulfil 
his  promise ;  and  we  momentarily  loolced  for  the  appearance  of  those  whose 
flight  we  naturally  supposed  would  l>c  directed  towards  the  bridge.  To  our 
great  surprise,  however,  we  remarked  that  the  sounds  of  pin-suit,  instead  of 
approaching  us,  seemed  to  take  an  opposite  direction,  apparently  towards  the 
point  whence  we  had  seen  the  prisoners  disembarked  in  the  morning.  At 
length,  when  almost  tempted  to  regret  we  had  not  pushed  boldly  on,  in  con- 
formity with  our  first  intention,  we  heard  the  shrill  cries  of  a  woman  ;  and 
long  afterwards,  the  sounds  of  human  feet  rushing  down  the  slope.  What 
our  sensations  were,  you  may  imagine ;  for  we  all  believed  it  to  be  either 
Clara  or  I^Iadeline  de  Haldimar  fleeing  alone,  and  pursued  by  our  ferocious 
enemies.  To  show  ourselves  ^\■ouId,  we  were  sensible,  be  to  ensure  the  death 
of  the  pursued,  before  we  could  possibly  come  up  ;  and  although  it  was  with 
diflBculty  we  repressed  the  desire  to  rush  forward  to  the  rescue,  our  better 
judgment  prevailed.  Finally  we  saw  you  approach,  followed  closely  by  what 
appeared  to  be  a  mere  boy  of  an  Indian,  and  at  a  considerable  distance,  by 
the  tall  warrior  of  the  Fleur  de  Lis.  We  imagined  there  was  time  enough 
for  you  to  gain  the  bridge  ;  and  finfling  your  more  formidable  pursuer  was 
only  accompanied  by  the  jouth  already  alluded  to,  conceived  at  that  moment 
the  design  of  making  him  our  prisoner.  Still  there  were  half  a  dozen  mus- 
kets ready  to  be  levelled  on  him  should  he  approach  too  near  to  his  fugitives, 
or  manifest  any  other  design  than  that  of  simply  re-capturing  them.  How 
well  our  plan  succeeded  you  are  aware  ;  but,  alas  !"  and  he  glanced  sorrow- 
fully at  the  corpse,  '"  why  was  our  success  to  be  embittered  by  so  great  a  sac- 
rifice V 

"  Ah,  would  to  heaven  that  he  at  least  had  been  spared,"  sighed  Sir  Eve- 
rard, as  he  took  the  wan  wliite  hand  of  of  his  friend  in  his  own  ;  •'  and  yet  I 
know  not ;  he  looks  so  calm,  so  happy  in  death,  it  is  almost  selfish  to  repine 
he  has  escaped  the  horrors  that  still  await  us  in  this  dreadful  warfare.  But 
what  of  Frederick  and  ^ludelino  de  Haldimar  ?  From  the  statement  you  have 
given,  they  must  have  been  liberated  by  the  young  Ottawa  before  he  came  to 
me;  yet,  what  could  have  induced  them  to  have  taken  a  course  of  flight  so 
opposite  to  that  which  promised  their  only  chance  of  safety  ?" 

"Heaven  only  knows,"  returned  Captain  Blessington.     "I  fear  they  have 
again  been  re-captured  by  the  savages ;  in  which  case  their  doom  is  scarcely 
14 


210  wacousta;    ok,    the    i'rophecy. 

doubtful ;  unless,  indeed,  our  prisoner  of  last  night  be  given  up  in  exchange 
for  them." 

"  Then  will  their  liberty  be  purchasecj  at  a  terrible  price,"  remarked  the 
baronet.  "  Will  you  believe,  Blessington,  that  that  man,  whose  enmity  to 
our  colonel  seems  almost  devilish,  was  once  an  officer  in  this  very  regiment  ?" 

"  You  astonish  me.  Valletort.  Impossible  !  and  yet  it  has  always  been  ap- 
parent to  me  they  were  once  associates." 

"  I  heard  him  relate  his  historj-^  only  last  night  to  Clara,  whom  he  had  the 
audacity  to  sully  with  proposals  to  become  his  bride,"  pursued  the  baronet. 
"  His  tale  was  a  most  extraordinary  one.  He  narrated  it,  however,  only  up  to 
the  period  when  the  life  of  Dc  Haldimar  was  attempted  by  him  at  Quebec. 
But  with  his  subsequent  history  we  are  all  well  acquainted,  through  the  fiirae 
of  his  bloody  atrocities  in  all  the  posts  tliathave  fallen  into  the  hands  of  Pon- 
teac.  That  man,  savage  and  even  ficndisli  as  he  now  is,  was  once  possessed 
of  the  noblest  qualities.  I  am  sorry  to  sa_v  it,  but  Colonel  de  Haldimar  has 
brought  this  present  affliction  upon  himself.  At  some  future  period  I  will 
tell  you  all." 

"  Alas  !"  said  Captain  Elossington,  "  poor  Charles,  then,  has  been  made  to 
pay  the  penalty  of  his  father's  errors ;  and,  certainly,  the  greatest  of  these 
was  his  dooming  the  unfortunate  Halloway  to  death  in  the  manner  he  did." 

"  What  think  you  of  the  tact  of  Hallovi-ay  being  the  nephew  of  this  ex- 
traordinary man,  and  botli  of  high  family  ?"  demanded  Sir  Everard. 

"  Indeed  !  and  was  the  latter,  then,  aware  of  tiie  connection  ?" 

"  Not  until  last  nigrit,"  replied  Sir  Everard.  "  Some  observations  made  by 
the  wretched  wife  of  Hailov/ay,  in  tlie  course  of  v\'h:ch  she  named  his  true 
name,  (wdiich  was  that  of  the  v/arrior  also.)  first  indicated  the  fact  to  the 
latter.  But  wliat  became  of  that  unfortunate  creature  ? — was  she  brought 
in  ?" 

'•  I  understand  not,"  said  Captain  Blessington.  "  In  the  confusion  and 
hurry  of  securing  our  prisoner,  and  the  apprehension  of  immediate  attack 
from  his  warriors,  Ellen  was  entirely  overlooked.  Some  of  my  men  say 
they  left  her  lying,  insensible,  on  the  spot  whence  they  had  raised  the  body 
of  our  unfortunate  friend,  which  they  hsul  some  diiiiculty  in  releasing  from  her 
convulsive  embrace.  But.  hark  !  there  is  the  first  di-um  for  parade,  and  I 
have  not  yet  exchanged  my  Indian  garb." 

Captain  Blessington  now  quitted  the  room,  and  Sir  Everard,  relieved  from 
the  restraining  presence  of  his  companioTis,  gave  free  vent  to  his  emotion, 
throu-ing  him.self  upon  the  liody  of  his  fi'iend,  and  giving  utterance  to  the 
feelings  of  anguish  that  oppressed  his  heart. 

He  had  continued  some  minutes  in  this  position,  when  he  fancied  he  felt  the 
warm  tears  of  a  human  being  bedewing  a  hand  that  reposed  on  tl;e  neck  of 
his  unfortunate  friend.  He  looked  up,  and  to  his  infinite  surprise,  beheld 
Clara  de  Haldimar  standing  before  him  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  bed.  Her 
likeness  to  her  brother,  at  that  moment,  was  so  striking,  that  for  a  second  or 
two,  the  irrepressible  thought  passed  through  the  mind  of  the  officer,  it  was 
not  a  living  being  he  gazed  upon,  but  the  innnaterial  spirit  of  his  friend.  The 
whole  attitude  and  appearance  of  the  wretched  girl,  independently  of  the  fact 
of  her  noiseless  entrance,  tended  to  favor  the  delusion.  Her  featuies,  of  an 
ashj  paleness,  seemed  fixed,  even  as  these  of  the  corpse  beneath  him ;  and 
but  for  the  tears  that  coursed  silently  down  her  cheek,  there  was  scarcely  an 
outward  evidence  of  emotion. 

"  You  are  surprised  to  see  me  here,  mingling  my  grief  with  j-ours,  Sir  Eve- 
rard," she  at  length  observed,  with  the  same  calm  mien,  and  in  tones  of  touch- 
ing sweetness.  "  I  came  here  with  my  father's  permission,  to  take  a  last  fare- 
well of  him  whose  death  has  broken  my  heart.  I  expected  to  be  alone ;  but — 
nay,  do  not  go,"  she  added,  perceiving  that  the  officer  was  about  to  depart. 
*'  Had  you  not  been  here,  I  should  have  sent  for  you ;  for  we  liave  both  a 
sacred  duty  to  perform.     May  I  ask  your  hand  ?" 


W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     T  U  K     PROPHECY.  21 1 

Dismayed  at  her  collected  .maimer,  (he  youiijj:;  officer  t;azed  at  her  with  the 
deepest  sorrow  depicted  in  every  line  of  his  own  countenance.  lie  extended 
his  hand,  and  Clara  to  his  surprise,  gi-asped  and  pressed  it  iirraly. 

"  It  was  the  wish  of  this  poor  boy  that  his  Clara  should  be  the  wife  of  his 
friend,  Sir  Everavd.     Did  he  ever  express  sucli  to  you  ?" 

"  It  was  the  fondest  desire  of  his  hcnrt,"  returned  tVie  baronet,  unable  to  re- 
strain the  emotion  of  joy  that  mingled  despite  of  himself,  with  his  worst  ap- 
prehensions. 

'•  I  need  not  ask  how  you  received  his  proposal,"  continued  Clara,  with  the 
same  calmness  of  manner.  '•  Last  nigb.t."  she  pursued  solemnly,  "  I  was  th© 
bride  of  the  murderer  of  my  brother,  of  the  loT<;r  of  my  mother, — to-morrow 
night  I  may  be  the  bride  of  death  ;  but  to-night  I  am  the  bride  of  my  brother's 
.friend.  Yes,  here  I  am  come  to  pledge  myself  to  the  fulfilment  of  his  wish. 
If  you  deen\  a  hoart-brolcen  girl  not  unworthy  of  you,  I  am  your  wife,  Sir 
Everard ;  and,  recollect,  it  is  a  solemn  pledge,  that  which  a  sister  gives  ovei 
the  lifeless  body  of  her  brother,  beloved  :i^-  ilii  ■  !i:!  .  ''icon." 

"Oh,  Clara — dearest  Clara,"  passional  !;  <  ■•  I  T;  ■  d  the  excited  young  man,, 
"  if  a  life  devoted  to  your  happiness  can  rvyxy  3  ou  lor  this,  count  upon  it  as 
you  would  upon  your  eternal  salvation.  In  you  will  1  love  both  my  frieatf 
and  the  sister  he  has  bequeathed  to  me.  Clara,  my  betrothed  wife,  snramdn 
all  the  energies  of  your  nature  to  sustain  this  cruel  shock  ;  and  exert  yourseli' 
for  him  who  will  ba  to  you  both  a  brother  and  a  husband."' 

As  he  spoke  ho  drow  the  nnresisting  girl  towards;  liir;!,  ;i.n'^,  locking  heria. 
hisembi.        1  :   :  ;     :   time,  the  li;i-,  -  ■li!>'ii:>d  hiat 

the  pre;.  I  by  the  for.  'ista.     Bat 

Clara  s!i--.;-  I  ■-'-■-•  .  vcd  hi;i  moni''.      ;  ,        ^  [Jev  cheek 

wore  not  the  eriiuM->H  ol\-;  >  ':.:v  wvw  ii.vi-  hvj:-.  i:i;  roiiiinucd.    Sba 

seemed  as  one  who  me;,-lur:!:  ;i'  d  (o  x;]\ri  .';!;<.'  h:\d  no  powei;  of  r©^ 

sistance  to  oppose;  and  cv."i    ...  .,;■.:■  -  ''fhcr  .■i!ii;L!iced  husband,  sl^e  ex- 

hibited the  same  death-like  iw-    .  \  '   ■     r.'-.'d  him  at  hc>- first  appeara35e«s.. 

Religion  could  not  hallow  :<  ]■■:<■  r  iviii.,  'ij.ui  that  which  had  impelled  tht 
actiou  of  the  young  oliicer.  The  vory  coiis''ionsnc~:s  oC  Ih"  y.rwd  pledge  hav- 
ing been  exchanged  over  the  corpse  of  his  friend,  inipai'tiMl  :i  jim!  nfss  of  fervor 
to  his  mind  ;  and  e"\en  while  he  pressed  her,  whom  he  si  ri-.-My  svv'ore  to  love: 
with  all  the  affection  of  a  fond  brother  and  a  husband  unicecl,  he  felt  that  i£ 
the  spirit  of  him,  who  slept  unconscious  of  the  scene,  were  suffered  to  lingeff- 
near,  it  would  be  to  hallow  it  with  approval, 

"  And  now,"  said  Clara  at  length,  yet  without  attempting  to  disengage  her- 
self,— ''  now  that  we  are  united,  I  would  be  alone  with  my  brother.  My  htis- 
band,  leave  me." 

Deeply  touched  at  the  name  of  husband.  Sir  Everard  could  not  refrain  from 
imprinting  another  kiss  on  the  lips  that  uttered  it.  He  then  gently  disengaged 
himself  from  his  lovely  but  suffering  charge,  whom  he  dejiosited  with  her  head 
resting  on  the  bed;  and  making  a  significant  motion  of  liis  liand  to  the  womaii, 
who,  as  well  as  old  jMorrison,  had  been  spectators  of  the  whole  scene,  stole 
gently  from  the  apartment,  under  what  emotions  of  joy  and  grief  it  would  be  - 
difficult  to  describe. 


CHAPTER   XXXI 7. 

It  was  the  eighth  hour  of  morning,  and  both  oflicers  and  men,  quitting  thei? 
ill-rehshed  meal,  were  to  be  seen  issuing  to  the  parade,  where  the  monotonoiis 
roll  of  the  assemblee  now  summoned  thcin.  Present!}'-  the  garrison  was  formed- 
presenting  three  equal  sides  of  a  square.  The  vacant  space  fronted  the  guam 
house,  near  one  extremity  of  which  was  to  bo  seen  a  t'ight  of  steps  communi- 
cating with  the  rampiirt,  where  the  flag-staff  was  erected.     Several  men  waift. 


^12  w  A  c  o  Tr  s  T  A  ;     or,    the    prophecy. 

employed  at  this  stall",  passing  strong  ropes  through  iron  pulleys  that  were 
suspended  from  the  extreme  top,  while  in  the  basement  of  the  staff  itself,  to  a 
Jieight  of  about  twenty  feet,  were  stuck  at  intervals  strong  wooden  pegs,  serv- 
ing as  step-3  to  the  artillerymen  for  greater  facility  in  clearing  when  foul,  the 
lines  to  which  the  colors  were  attached.  The  latter  had  been  removed  ;  and, 
from  the  substitution  of  a  cord  considerably  stronger  than  that  which  usually- 
appeared  there,  it  seemed  as  if  some  for  heavier  weight  was  about  to  be  ap- 
pended to  it.  Gradually  the  men,  having  completed  their  usual  preparations, 
quitted  the  rampart,  and  the  flag-statf  which  was  of  tapering  pine,  was  left 
totally  unguarded. 

The  '•  Attention !"  of  Major  Blackwater  to  the  troops,  who  had  been  hitherto 
standing  in  attitudes  of  expectancy  that  rendered  the  injunction  almost  super- 
fluous, announced  the  approach  of  the  governor.  Soon  afterwards  that  officer 
Wintered  the  area,  wearing  his  characteristic  dignity  of  manner,  yet  exhibiting 
every  evidence  of  one  who  had  suffered  deeply.  Preparation  for  a  drum-head 
court-martial,  as  in  the  case  of  Ilalloway.  had  already  been  made  within  the 
square,  and  the  only  actor  wanting  in  the  drama  was  he  who  was  to  be  tried. 

Once  Colonel  dc  Ilaldimar  made  an  effort  to  command  his  appearance,  but 
the  huskiness  of  his  voice  choked  his  utterance,  and  he  was  compelled  to  pause. 
After  the  lapse  of  a  few  moments,  he  again  ordered,  but  in  a  voice  that  was 
remarked  to  falter, — 

"  Mr.  Lawson,  let  the  prisoner  be  brought  forth." 

The  feeling  of  suspense  that  ensued  between  the  delivery  and  execution  of 
.this  command  was  painful  throughout  the  ranks.  All  were  penetrated  with 
curiosity  to  behold  a  man  who  had  several  times  appeared  to  them  under  the 
most  appalling  circumstances,  and  against  whom  the  strongest  feeling  of  indig- 
nation had  been  excited  for  his  barbarous  murder  of  Charles  de  Haldimar.  It 
was  with  mingled  awe  and  anger  they  now  awaited  his  approach.  At  length 
the  captive  was  seen  advancing  from  the  cell  in  which  he  had  been  confined, 
his  gigantic  form  towering  far  above  those  of  the  guard  of  grenadiers  by  whom 
he  was  surrounded ;  and  with  a  haughtiness  in  his  air,  and  insolence  in  his 
manner,  that  told  he  came  to  confront  his  enemy  with  a  spirit  unsubdued  by 
the  fate  that  too  probably  awaited  him. 

Many  an  eye  was  turned  upon  the  governor  at  that  moment.  He  was  evi- 
dently struggling  for  composure  to  meet  the  scene  he  felt  it  to  be  impossible 
to  avoid ;  and  he  turned  pale  and  paler  as  his  enemy  drew  near. 

At  length  the  prisoner  stood  nearly  on  the  same  spot  where  his  unfortunate 
nephew  had  lingered  on  a  former  occasion.  lie  was  unchained ;  but  his  hands 
were  firmly  secured  behind  his  back.  He  threw  himself  into  an  attitude  of 
carelessness,  resting  on  one  foot,  and  tapping  the  earth  with  the  othei- ;  rivet- 
ing his  eye,  at  the  same  time,  with  an  expression  of  the  most  daring  insolence, 
on  the  governor,  while  his  swarthy  cheek  was  moreover  lighted  up  with  a 
smile  of  the  deepest  scorn. 

"  You  are  Reginald  Morton  the  outlaw,  I  believe,"  at  length  observed  the 
governor  in  an  uncertain  tone,  that,  however,  acquired  greater  firmness  as  he 
proceeded, — "  one  whose  life  has  already  been  forfeited  through  his  treasona- 
ble practices  in  Europe,  and  who  has,  moreover,  incurred  the  penalty  of  an 
ignominious  death,  by  acting  as  a  spy  of  the  enemies  of  Englancl.  What  say 
you,  Reginald  ]\Iorton,  that  you  should  not  be  convicted  in  the  death  that 
awaits  the  traitor  ?" 

"  Ha !  ha !  by  heaven,  such  cold,  pompous  insolence  amuses  me,"  vociferated 
Wacousta.  "  It  reminds  me  of  Ensign  de  Haldimar  of  nearly  five  and  twenty 
years  back,  who  was  then  as  cunning  a  dissembler  as  he  is  now."  Suddenly 
changing  his  ribald  tone  to  one  of  scorn  and  rage : — "  You  believe  me,  you  sa)--, 
to  be  Reginald  Morton,  the  outlaw.  Well  do  you  know  it.  I  am  that  Sir 
Reginald  Jlorton,  who  became  an  outlaw,  not  through  his  own  crimes,  but 
through  your  villany.  Ay,  frown  as  you  may,  I  heed  it  not.  You  may  award 
me  death,  but  shall  not  chain  my  tongue.     To  your  whole  regiment  do  I  pro- 


\v  A  c  o  u  s  T  A  ;    o  u  ,    r  n  r.    v  r  o  v  ii  y.  c  y  .  21S 

claim  you  for  a  false,  remorseless  villain."  'I'lien  Uiruinic  his  Hashing  eye  .ajon^- 
the  ranks : — "  I  was  once  an  olHccr  in  this  corps,  and  lon<;'  bci'ore  any  of  you 
wore  the  accursed  uniform.  That  man,  tliiit  iiend,  affected  to  bo  my  friend  j 
and  under  the  cruise  of  friendship,  stoU;  into  the  heart  1  loved  better  than  my 
own  life.  Yes,"  fervently  pursued  the  excited  prisoner,  stamping;  violently 
with  his  foot  upon  the  earth,  "  he  robbed  me  of  m}^  aflianced  wife ;  and  for 
that  I  resented  an  outrage  that  should  have  banished  him  to  some  lone  region^ 
where  he  might  never  again  pollute  human  nature  with  his  presence — he 
caused  me  to  be  tried  by  a  court-martial,  and  dismissed  the  service.  Then, 
indeed.  I  became  the  outlaw  he  has  described,  but  not  until  then.  Now, 
Colonel  de  Ilaldimar,  that  I  have  proclaimed  your  infamj-,  poor  and  inefficient 
as  the  triumph  be.  do  your  worst — I  ask  no  mercy.  Yesterday  T  thought 
that  years  of  toilsome  pursuit  of  the  means  of  vengeance  were  about  to  be 
crowned  with  success ;  but  fate  has  turned  the  tables  on  me,  and  1  yield." 

To  all  but  the  baronet  and  Captain  Blessington  this  declaration  was  pro- 
ductive of  the  utmost  surprise.  Every  eye  was  turned  upon  the  colonel.  He 
grew  impatient  under  the  scrutiny,  and  demanded  if  the  court,  who  mean- 
while had  been  deliberating,  satisfied  of  the  guilt  of  the  prisoner,  had  come  to  a 
decision  in  regard  to  his  punishment.  An  affirmative  answer  was  given,  and 
Colonel  de  Haldimar  proceeded. 

"  Reginald  Morton,  with  the  private  misfortunes  of  your  former  life  we  have 
nothing  to  do.  It  is  the  decision  of  this  court,  who  are  merely  met  out  of 
form,  that  j^ou  suffer  immediate  death  by  hanging,  as  a  just  recompense  for 
3'our  double  treason  to  your  country.  There,"  and  he  pointed  to  the  flag- 
staff, •'  will  you  be  exhibited  to  the  misguided  people  whom  j'our  wicked 
artifices  have  stirred  up  into  hostility  against  us.  When  they  behold  your 
fate,  they  will  take  warnmg  from  your  example  ;  and,  finding  we  have  heads 
and  arms  not  to  sufl'er  offence  with  impunity,  be  more  readily  brought  to 
obedience,'' 

"  I  understand  your  allusion,"  coolly  rejoined  Wacousta,  glancing  earnestly 
at,  and  apparently  measurmg  with  his  eye,  the  dimensions  of  the  conspicuous 
scaffold  on  which  he  was  to  suffer.  '"  You  had  ever  a  calculating  head,  De 
Haldimar,  where  any  secret  villany,  anything  to.  promote  your  own  selfish 
ends,  was  to  be  gained  by  it ;  but  your  calculation  seems  now,  methinks,  at 
fault" 

Colonel  De  Haldimar  looked  at  him  enquiringly. 

•'  You  have  still  a  son  left,"  pursued  the  prisoner  with  the  same  recklessness 
of  manner,  and  in  a  tone  denoting  allusion  to  him  who  was  no  more,  that 
caused  an  universal  shudder  throughout  the  ranks.  "  He  is  in  the  hands  of 
the  Ottawa  Indians,  and  I  am  the  friend  of  their  great  cliief,  inferior  only  in 
power  among  the  tribe  to  himself  Think  you  that  he  will  sec  me  hanged  up 
like  a  dog,  and  fail  to  avenge  my  disgraceful  death  ?" 

'•  Ha  !  presumptuous  i-enegade,  is  this  the  deep  game  you  have  in  view  ? 
Hope  you  then  to  stipulate  for  the  presei-vation  of  a  life  every  way  forfeited 
to  the  offended  justice  of  your  country  ?  Dare  you  to  cherish  the  belief,  that 
after  the  horrible  threats  so  often  denounced  by  you,  you  will  again  be  let 
loose  upon  a  career  of  crime  and  blood  ?" 

"  None  of  your  cant,  De  Haldimar,  as  I  once  observed  to  you  before," 
coolly  retorted  \Yacousta.  with  bitter  sarcasm.  "  Consult  your  own  heart, 
and  ask  if  its  catalogue  of  crime  be  not  far  greater  than  my  own :  yet  I  ask 
not  my  life.  I  would  but  have  the  manner  of  my  fate  altered,  and  fain 
would  die  the  death  of  the  soldier  I  wa^<i  before  you  rendered  me  the  wretch 
I  am.  Methinks  the  baon  is  not  so  great,  if  the  restoration  of  your  son  be  the 
price." 

"  Do  you  mean,  then,"  eagerly  returned  the  governor,  ''  that  if  the  mere 
mode  of  your  death  be  changed,  my  son  shall  be  restored  ?" 

••  I  do,"  was  the  calm  reply. 

"  What  pledge  have  we  of  the  fact  ?    What  faith  can  we  I'cpose  in  the  word 


'SM  wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy. 

of  a  fiend,  whose  brutal  Yeiigcanco  has  already  saci'ificed  the  gentlest  life  that 
ever  animated  human  claj?"  Here  the  emotion  of  the  governor  almost 
choked  his  utterance,  and  considerable  agitation  and  murmuring  were  mani- 
fested in  the  ranks. 

"  Gentle,  said  you  ?"  replied  the  prisoner,  musingly ;  "  then  did  he  resem- 
ble his  mother,  whom  I  lo^-ed,  even  as  his  brother  resembles  you.  whom  I 
have  so  much  reason  to  hate.  Had  I  known  the  boy  to  be  what  you  describe, 
I  might  have  fclt  some  touch  of  pity  even  while  I  delayed  not  to  strike  his 
death  blow  ;  but  the  false  moonlight  deceived  me,  and  the  detested  name  of 
De  Haldimar,  pronounced  by  the  lips  of  my  nephew's  wife — that  wife  whom 
your  cold-blooded  severity  had  widowed  and  driven  mad — was  in  itself  suffi- 
cient to  ensure  his  doom." 

"Inhuman  ruffian  !"  exclaimed  the  governor,  with  increasing  indignation; 
"  to  the  point.  What  pledge  have  j-ou  to  offer  that  my  son  will  he  restored  ?" 

"  Nay,  the  pledge  is  easily  given,  and  without  nmch  risk.  You  have  only 
to  defer  my  death  until  your  messenger  return  from  his  interview  with  Pon- 
teac.  If  Captain  de  Haldimar  accompany  him  back,  shoot  me  as  I  have  re- 
quested ;  if  he  come  not,  then  it  is  but  to  hang  me,  after  all." 

'•  Ha  !  I  understand  you  ;  this  is  but  a  pretext  to  gain  time,  a  device  to  en- 
able your  subtle  brain  to  plan  some  mode  of  escape." 

"  As  you  will,  Colonel'  de  Haldimar,"  calmly  retorted  Wacousta ;  and  again 
he  .sank  into  silence,  with  the  air  of  one  utterly  indifferent  to  results. 

"  Do  you  mean,"  resumed  the  colonel,  "  that  a  request  from  yourself  to  the 
Ottawa  chief  will  obtain  the  liberation  of  my  son  ?" 

'  Unless  tlie  Indian  be  false  as  yourself,  I  do." 

"  And  of  the  lady  who  is  with  him  ?"  continued  the  colonel,  coloring  with 
auger. 

"  Of  both." 

"  How  is  the  message  to  be  conve3red  ?" 

"  Ha,  sir !"  returned  the  prisoner,  drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height, 
•'  now  arc  j'^ou  arrived  at  a  point  that  is  pertinent.  My  wampum  belt  will  be 
the  passport,  and  the  safeguard  of  him  you  send  ;  then  for  the  communica- 
tion. There  are  certain  figures,  as  you  are  aware,  that,  traced  on  bark,  an- 
swer the  same  purpose  among  the  Indians  with  the  European  language  of 
letters.  Let  my  hands  be  cut  loose,"  he  pursued,  but  in  a  tone  in  which 
agitation  and  excitement  might  be  detected,  "  and  if  bark  be  brought  me.  and 
a  burnt  stick  or  co;il,  I  will  give  you  not  only  a  sample  of  Indian  ingenuity, 
but  a  specimen  of  my  own  progress  in  Indian  acquirements." 

"  What,  free  your  hands,  and  thus  afford  you  a  chance  of  escape  ?"  observed 
the  governor,  doubtingly. 

Wacousta  bent  his  steadfast  gaze  on  him  for  a  few  moments  as  if  he  ques- 
tioned he  had  heard  aright.  Then  bursting  into  a  wild  and  scornful  laugh, — 
"  By  heaven  !"  he  exclaimed,  "  this  is,  indeed,  a  high  compliment  you  pay  me 
at  the  expense  of  these  fine  fellows.  What,  Colonel  de  Haldimar  afraid  to 
liberate  an  unarmed  prisoner,  hemmed  in  by  a  forest  of  bayonets  ?  This  is 
good  ;  gentlemen,"  and  he  bent  himself  in  sarcastic  reverence  to  the  astonished 
troops,  "  I  beg  to  offer  my  very  best  congratulatiens  on  the  high  estimation 
in  which  you  arc  held  by  your  colonel." 

"  Peace,  sirrah !"  exclaimed  the  governor,  enraged  beyond  measure  at  the 
insolence  of  him  who  thus  held  him  up  to  contempt  before  his  men,  ''  or,  by 
heaven,  I  will  have  your  tongue  cut  out ! — j\Ir.  Lawson,  let  what  this  fellow 
requires  be  procured  immediately."  Then  addressing  Lieutenant  Boj^ce,  who 
commanded  the  immediate  guard  over  the  prisonej-, — "  Let  his  hands  be  lib- 
erated, sir,  and  enjoin  your  men  to  bo  watchful  of  the  movements  of  this 
supple  traitor.  His  activity  I  know  of  old  to  be  great,  and  he  seems  to  have 
doubled  it  since  he  assumed  that  garb." 

The  command  was  executed,  and  the  prisoner  stood,  once  more  free  and 
unfettered  in  every  muscular  limb.     A  deep  and  unbroken  silence  ensued ; 


wacousta;     or,    the    prophecy.  215 

and  tlie  return  of  tho  adjutant  was  momentarily  expected.  Suddenly  a 
loud  scream  was  heard,  and  the  slip,ht  iv^urc  of  a  female,  clad  in  white,  came 
rushinc,-  from  the  piazza  in  Miiioh  the  ai)artniont  of  the  deceased  De  Haldimar 
was  situated.  It  was  Clara.  The  guard  of  \\'acousta  formed  the  fourth  front 
of  the  square  ;  but  they  were  drawn  up  somewhat  in  the  distance,  so  as  to 
leave  an  open  space  of  several  feet  at  the  ans^les.  Throuj^h  one  of  these  the 
excited  girl  now  passed  into  the  area,  with  a  wildness  in  her  air  and  appearance 
that  riveted  every  e\'e  in  painful  interest  upon  her.  She  paused  not  until  she 
had  gained  the  side  of  the  captive,  at  whose  feet  she  now  sank  in  an  attitude 
expressive  of  the  most  profound  despair. 

'•  Tiger  ! — monster  !"  she  raved,  "  restore  ray  brother  ! — give  rae  back  the 
gentle  life  you  have  taken,  or  destroy  my  own  !  See,  I  am  a  weak  defence- 
less girl :  can  j^ou  not  strike  ? — you  have  no  pity  for  the  innocent.  But 
come,"  she  pursued  mournfully,  regaining  her  feet  and  grasping  his  iron  hand, 
— •'  come  and  see  the  sweet  calm  face  of  him  you  have  slain : — come  with  me, 
and  behold  the  image  of  Clara  Beverlej' ;  and,  if  }■  ou  ever  loved  her  as  you 
say  you  did,  let  your  soul  be  touched  with  remorse  for  your  crime." 

The  excitement  and  confusion  produced  by  this  --  ■-  '  i  interruption 
was  great.     Murmurs  of  compassion  for  the  unhaj)-)  '  of  indigna- 

tion against  the  prisoner,  were  no  longer  sought  to  i.'      ,  :  !iy  the  men ; 

while  the  officers,  quitting  their  places  in  the  ranks,  grcui^d  t'lcmsolves  indis- 
criminal  vly  in  the  fore-ground.  One,  more  impatient  than  his  companions, 
sprang  forward,  and  forcibly  drew  away  the  delicate  hand  that  still  grasped 
that  of  the  captive.     It  was  Sir  Everard  Valletort. 

"  Clara,  my  beloved  wife  !"  he  exclaimed,  to  the  astonishment  of  all  who 
heard  him,  "pollute  not  your  lips  by  further  communion  with  such  a  wretch; 
his  heart  is  as  inaccessible  to  pitj^  as  the  rugged  rocks  on  which  his  spring-life 
was  passed.  For  H;'nvon's  sake. — for  my  .sake, — linger  not  M'ithin  his  reach. 
There  is  deatli  i-  '  presence." 

"Yourwif  .  'i I ily  observed  the  governor,  with  irrepn:7;-ible  a.s- 

tonishment  ani;  :       -'.i  in  his  voice;  "  what  mean  you? — Gentlemen,  re- 

sume your  places  in  the  ranks.  Clara — Miss  de  Haldimar,  I  command  j^ou  to 
retire  instantly  to  j'our  apailment.  We  will  discourse  of  this  later.  Sir  Eve- 
rard Valletort.     I  trust  you  have  not  dared  to  olfer  an  indignity  to  ray  child." 

While  he  was  yet  turned  to  that  officer,  who  ha;i  t:iken  his  post,  as  cora- 
manded,  in  the  inner  angle  of  the  square,  and  with  a  countenance  that  denoted 
the  contlicting  emotions  of  his  soul,  he  was  suddenly  startled  by  the  confused 
shout  and  rushing  forward  of  the  whole  bod}^,  both  of  officers  and  men.  Be- 
fore he  had  time  to  turn,  a  loud  and  well-remembered  yell  burst  upon  his 
ear.  The  next  moment,  to  his  infinite  surprise  and  horror,  he  beheld  the 
bold  warrior  rapidly  ascending  the  -very  staff  that  had  been  destined  for  his 
scaffold,  and  with  Clara  in  his  arms  ! 

Great  was  the  confusion  that  ensued.  To  rush  forward  and  surround  the 
flag-staff,  was  the  immediate  ,'iction  of  the  troops.  Many  of  the  men  raised 
their  muskets,  and  m  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  would  have  fired,  had 
they  not  been  restrained  by  tlair  oilicers.  who  pointed  out  the  certain  destruc- 
tion it  would  entail  on  the  unfortunate  Clara.  Wiih  the  r.inidity  of  thought, 
Wacousta  had  snatched  up  his  \ictim,  while  ''  of  tlic  troops  was 

directed  to  the  singular  conversation  passing    :  governor  and  Sir 

Everard  Valletort,  and  darting  through  one  i-i  ,.,  .....a  angles  already  al- 
luded to,  had  gained  the  rampart  before  they  had  recovered  from  the  .stupor 
produced  by  his  daring  action.  Stepping  lightly  upon  the  pegs,  he  had  ra- 
pidly ascended  to  the  utmost  height  of  the.se,  before  any  one  thought  of  fol- 
lowing him  ;  and  then  grasping  in  his  teeth  the  cord  which  was  to  have  served 
for  his  execution,  and  holding  Clara  firmly  against  his  chest,  while  he  em- 
braced the  smooth  stafl"  with  knees  and  feet  closely  compressed  around  it,  ac- 
complished the  difficult  ascent  with  an  ease  that  astonished  all  who  beheld 
him.     Gratiually,  as  he  approached  the  top,  the  taj^ering  pine  waved  to  and 


216  avacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

fro  ;  and  at  each  moment  it  was  expected,  that,  yielding  to  their  united  weight, 
it  would  snap  asunder,  and  precipitate  both  Clara  and  himself,  upon  the  ram- 
part, or  into  the  ditch  beyond. 

More  than  one  officer  now  attempted  to  follow  the  fugitive  in  his  adventu- 
rous course ;  but  even  Lieutenant  Johnstone,  the  most  active  and  experienced 
in  climbing  of  tlie  party,  was  unable  to  rise  more  than  a  few  yards  above  the 
pegs  that  afFoi-ded  a  footing,  and  the  enterprise  was  abandoned  as  an  impos- 
sibility. At  length  Wacousta  was  seen  to  gain  the  extreme  summit.  For  a 
moment  ho  turned  his  gaze  anxiously  beyond  the  town,  in  the  direction  of  the 
bridge  ;  and,  after  pealing  forth  one  of  his  terrific  yells,  exclaimed,  exultingly, 
as  he  turned  his  eyes  upon  his  enemy  : — 

''  Well,  colonel,  what  think  you  of  this  sample  of  Indian  ingenuity  ?  Did 
I  not  tell  you,"  he  continued,  in  mockery,  "'  that,  if  my  hands  were  but  free, 
I  would  give  you  a  specimen  of  my  progress  in  Indian  acquirements?" 

'■  If  you  would  avoid  a  death  even  more  terrible  than  that  of  hanging," 
shouted  the  governor,  in  a  voice  of  mingled  rage  and  terror.  "  restore  m.jr 
daughter." 

"  Ha!  ha!  ha  ! — excellent !"  vociferated  the  savage.  ''You  threaten  largely^ 
my  good  governor ;  but  your  thi-eats  are  harmless  as  those  of  a  weak  besieg- 
ing army  before  an  impregnable  fortress.  It  is  for  the  strongest,  however,  to 
propose  his  terms.  If  T  restore  this  girl  to  life,  will  you  pledge  yourself  to 
mine  ?" 

•'  Never !"  thundered  Colonel  de  Haldimar.  with  unusual  energy.  '"  Men^ 
procure  axes  ;  cut  the  flag-staff  down,  since  this  is  the  only  means  left  of  se- 
curing yon  insolent  traitor  !  Quick  to  your  work  :  and  mark,  who  fii'st  seizes 
him  shall  have  proniotion  on  the  spot." 

Axes  were  instantly  procured,  and  two  of  the  men  now  lent  themselves 
vigorously  to  the  task.  Wacousta  seemed  to  watch  these  preparations  with 
evident  anxiety  ;  and  to  all  it  appeared  as  if  his  courage  had  been  paralysed 
by  this  unexpected  action.  No  sooner,  however,  had  the  axemen  reached  the 
heart  of  the  staff,  than,  holding  Clara  forth  over  the  edge  of  the  rampart,  he 
shouted, — 

"One  stroke  more,  and  she  perishes  !" 

Instantaneously  the  work  was  discontinued.  A  silence  of  a  few  moments  en- 
sued. Every  eye  was  turned  upward. — ever}-  heart  beat  with  terror  to  see 
the  delicate  girl,  held  by  a  single  arm.  and  apparently  about  to  be  precipitated 
from  that  dizzying  height.     Again  Wacousta  shouted, — 

•'  Life  for  life,  De  Haldimar  !     If  I  yield  her  shall  I  live  ?" 

"  No  terms  shall  be  dictated  to  me  by  a  rebel,  in  the  heart  of  my  own  fort," 
returned  the  governor.  ••  Restore  my  child,  and  we  will  then  consider  vyhat 
mercy  may  be  extended  to  you." 

'•  Well  do  I  know  what  mercy  dwells  in  such  a  heart  as  yours,"  gloomily 
remarked  the  prisoner ;  '•  but  I  come." 

"  Surround  the  staff,  men,"  ordered  the  governor,  in  a  low  tone.  "  The  in- 
stant he  descends,  secure  him  :  lash  him  in  every  limb,  nor  suffer  even  his 
insolent  tongue  to  be  longer  at  liberty." 

"  Boyce,  for  God's  sake  open  the  gate,  and  place  men  in  readiness  to  lower 
the  drtiwbridge,"  implored  Sii-  Everard  of  the  officer  of  the  guard,  and  in  a 
tone  of  deep  emotion  that  was  not  meant  to  be  overheard  by  the  governor. 
"  I  fear  the  boldness  of  this  vengeful  man  may  lead  him  to  some  desperate 
means  of  escape." 

While  the  officer  whom  he  addressed  issued  a  command,  the  responsibility 
of  which  he  fancied  he  might,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  moment, 
take  upon  himself,  Wacousta  began  his  descent,  not  as  before,  by  adhering  to 
the  staff  but  by  the  rope  which  he  held  in  his  left  hand,  while  he  still  sup- 
ported the  apparently  senseless  Clara  against  his  right  breast  A\'ith  the  other. 

"  Now,  Colonel  de  Haldimar.  I  hope  your  heart  is  at  rest,"  he  shouted,  as 


wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy.  217 

he  rapidly  glided  by  the  cord ;  "  enjoy  your  triumph  as  best  may  suit  your 
pleasure." 

Every  eye  followed  his  movement  vnth  interest ;  every  heart  beat  lighter  at 
the  certainty  of  Clara  being  again  restored,  and  without  other  injury  than 
the  terror  she  must  have  experienced  in  such  a  scene.  Each  congi-atulated 
himself  on  the  favorable  tcrnunation  of  the  terrible  adventure,  yet  were  all 
ready  to  spring  upon  and  secure  the  desperate  author  of  the  wrong.  Wacousta 
had  now  reached  the  centre  of  the  flag- staff.  Pausing  for  a  moment,  he 
grappled  it  with  his  strong  and  nervous  feet,  on  which  he  apparently  rested, 
to  give  a  momentary  relief  to  the  muscles  of  his  left  arm.  lie  then  abruptly 
abandoned  his  hold,  swinging  himself  out  a  few  yards  from  the  staff,  and  re- 
turning again,  dashed  his  feet  against  it  with  a  force  that  caused  the  weakened 
mass  to  vibrate  to  its  very  foundation.  Impelled  by  his  weight,  and  the  vio- 
lence of  his  action,  the  creaking  pine  gave  way  ;  its  lofty  top  gradiially  bend- 
ing over  the  exterior  rampart  until  it  finally  snapped  asunder,  and  fell  with  a 
loud  crash  across  the  ditch. 

"  Open  the  gate,  down  with  the  drawbridge  !"  exclaimed  the  excited  gov- 
ernor. 

"  Down  with  the  drawbridge,"  repeated  Sir  Everard  to  the  men  already 
stationed  there  ready  to  let  loose  at  the  first  order.  The  heavy  chauis  rattled 
sullenly  through  the  rusty  pulleys,  and  to  each  the  bridge  seemed  an  hour 
descending.  Before  it  had  reached  its  level,  it  was  covered  with  the  weight 
of  mau}^  armed  men  rushing  confusedly  to  the  front ;  and  the  foremost  of 
these  leaped  to  the  earth  before  it  had  sunk  into  its  customary  bed.  Sir 
Everard  Valletort  and  Lieutenant  Johnstone  were  in  the  front,  both  armed 
with  their  rifles,  which  had  been  brought  them  before  Wacousta  commenced 
his  descent.  Without  order  or  combination,  Erskine,  Blessington,  and  nearly 
half  of  their  respective  companies,  followed  as  they  could  ;  and  dispersing  as 
they  advanced,  sought  only  which  could  outstrip  his  fellows  in  the  pursuit. 

Meanwhile  the  fugitive,  assisted  in  his  fall  by  the  gradual  rending  asunder 
of  the  staff",  had  obeyed  the  impulsion  first  given  to  his  active  form,  until, 
suddenly  checking  himself  by  the  rope,  he  dropped  with  his  feet  downward 
into  the  cento-e  of  the  ditch.  For  a  moment  he  disappeared,  then  came  again 
uninjured  to  the  surface ;  and  in  the  face  of  more  than  fifty  men,  who,  lining 
the  rampart  with  their  muskets  levelled  to  take  him  at  advantage  the  instant 
he  should  reappear,  seemed  to  laugh  their  efforts  to  scorn.  Holdmg  Clara 
before  him  as  a  shield,  through  which  the  bullets  of  his  enemies  must  pass 
before  they  could  attain  him,  he  impelled  his  gigantic  form  with  a  backward 
movement  toward  the  opposite  bank,  which  he  rapidly  ascended  ;  and,  still 
fronting  his  enemies,  commenced  his  flight  in  that  manner  with  a  speed  which 
(considering  the  additional  weight  of  the  drenched  garments  of  both)  was 
inconceivable.  The  course  taken  by  him  was  not  through  the  town,  but  cir- 
cuitously  across  the  common  until  he  arrived  on  that  immediate  line  whence, 
as  we  have  before  stated,  the  bridge  was  distinctly  visible  from  the  rampart ; 
on  which,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  remaining  troops,  in  defiance  of  the  pres- 
ence of  their  austere  chief,  were  now  eagerly  assembled,  watching,  with  un- 
speakable interest,  the  pregress  of  the  chase. 

Desperate  as  were  the  exertions  of  Wacousta,  who  evidently  continued  this 
mode  of  flight  from  a  conviction  that  the  instant  his  person  was  left  exposed 
the  fire-arms  of  his  pursuers  would  be  brought  to  bear  upon  him,  the  two 
officers  in  front,  animated  by  the  most  extraordinary  exertions,  were  rapidly 
gaming  upon  him.  Already  was  one  within  fifty  yards  of  him,  when  a  loud 
yell  was  heard  from  the  bridge.  This  was  fiercely  answered  by  the  fleeing 
man,  and  in  a  manner  that  implied  his  glad  sense  of  coming  rescue.  In  the 
wild  exultation  of  the  moment,  he  raised  Clara  high  above  his  head,  to  show 
her  in  triumph  to  the  governor,  whose  person  his  keen  eye  could  easily  dis- 
tinguish among  those  crowded  upon  the  rampart.  In  the  gratified  vengeance 
of  that  hour,  he  seemed  utterly  to  overlook  the  actions  of  those  who  were  so 


218  W  A  C  O  U  S  T  A  ;      OR,     THE     PROPHECY. 

near  him.  During  thi»  brief  scene,  Sir  Everard  had  dropped  upon  one  knee, 
and  supporting  his  elbow  on  the  other,  aimed  his  riile  at  the  heart  of  the  rav- 
isher  of  his  wife.  An  exulting  shout  burst  from  the  pursuing  troops.  Wa- 
cousta  bounded  a  few  feet  in  air,  and  placing  his  hand  to  his  side,  uttered 
another  yell,  more  appalling  than  any  that  had  hitherto  escaped  him.  His 
flight  was  now  uncertain  and  Avavering.  He  staggered  as  one  who  had  re- 
ceived a  mortal  wound  ;  and  discontinuing  his  unequal  mode  of  retreat,  turned 
his  back  upon  his  pursuers,  and  threw  all  his  remaining  energies  into  a  final 
effort  at  escape. 

Inspirited  by  the  success  of  his  shot,  and  expecting  momentarily  to  see 
him  fall  weakened  with  the  loss  of  blood,  the  excited  Valletort  redoubled  his 
exertions.  To  his  infinite  joy,  he  found  that  the  efforts  of  the  fugitive  became 
feebler  at  each  moment.  Johnstone  was  about  twenty  paces  behind  him,  and 
the  pursuing  party  at  about  the  same  distance  from  Johnstone.  The  baronet 
had  now  reached  his  enemy,  and  already  was  the  butt  of  his  rifle  raised  with 
murderous  intent,  when  suddenly  Wacousta,  every  feature  distorted  with  rage 
and  pain,  turned  like  a  wounded  lion  at  bay,  and  eluding  the  blow,  deposited 
the  unconscious  form  of  his  victim  upon  the  sward.  Springing  upon  his  in- 
finitely weaker  pursuer,  he  grappled  him  furiously  by  the  throat,  exclaiming 
through  his  clenched  teeth  : — 

"  Nay  then,  since  j'ou  will  provoke  your  fate — be  it  so.  Die  like  a  dog, 
and  be  d d,  for  having  balked  me  of  my  just  revenge  !" 

As  he  spoke,  he  hurled  the  grasping  officer  to  the  earth  with  a  violence  that 
betraj^ed  the  dreadful  excitement  of  his  soul,  and  again  hastened  to  assure 
himself  of  his  prize. 

Meanwhile,  Lieutenant  Johnstone  had  come  up,  and  seeing  his  companion 
struggling,  as  he  presumed  with  advantage,  with  his  severely  wounded  enemy, 
made  it  his  first  care  to  secure  the  unhappy  girl ;  for  whose  recoveiy  the  pur- 
suit had  been  principally  instituted.  Quitting  his  rifle,  he  now  essayed  to 
raise  her  in  his  arms.  She  was  without  life  or  consciousness,  and  the  im- 
pression on  his  mind  was  that  she  was  dead. 

While  in  the  act  of  raising  her,  the  terrible  Wacoi:sta  stood  at  his  side,  his 
vast  chest  heaving  forth  a  laugh  of  mingled  rage  and  contempt.  Before  the 
officer  could  extricate,  with  a  view  of  defending  himself,  his  arms  were  pinion- 
ed as  though  in  a  vice  ;  and  ere  he  could  recover  from  his  surprise,  he  felt 
himself  lifted  up  and  thrown  to  a  considerable  distance.  When  he  opened  his 
eyes  a  moment  afterwards,  he  was  lying  amid  the  moving  feet  of  his  own  men. 

From  the  instant  of  the  closing  of  the  unfortunate  Valletort  with  his  enemy, 
the  Indians,  hastening  to  the  assistance  of  their  chief,  had  come  up,  and  a  de- 
sultory fire  had  already  commenced,  diverting,  in  a  great  degree,  the  attention 
of  the  troops  from  the  pursued.  Emboldened  by  this  new  aspect  of  things, 
Wacousta  now  deliberately  grasped  the  rifle  that  had  been  abandoned  by 
Johnstone ;  and  raising  it  to  his  soulder,  fired  among  the  group  collected  on 
the  ramparts.  For  a  moment  he  watched  the  resiilt  of  his  shot,  and  then, 
pealing  forth  another  fierce  yell,  he  hurled  the  now  useless  weapon  into  the 
very  heart  of  his  pursuers ;  and  again  raising  Clara  in  his  arms,  once  more 
commenced  his  retreat,  which,  under  cover  of  the  lire  of  his  party,  was  easily 
effected. 

"  Who  has  fallen?"  demanded  the  governor  of  his  adjutant,  perceiving  that 
some  one  had  been  hit  at  his  side,  yet  without  taking  his  eyes  off  his  terrible 
enemy.  . 

•'Mr.  Delme,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  "He  has  been  shot  through  the  heart, 
and  his  men  are  bearing  him  from  the  rampart." 

"  This  must  not  be,"  resumed  the  governor  with  energy.  "  Private  feelings 
must  no  longer  be  studied  at  the  expense  of  the  public  good.  The  pursuit  is 
hopeless  ;  and  already  too  many  of  my  officers  have  fallen.  Desire  the  re- 
treat to  be  sounded,  Mr.  Lawson.     Captain  Wentworth,  let  one  or  two  cover- 


W  A  C  O  II  S  T  A  ;      OR,     T  H  K      PROPHECY.  219 

iogguns  be  bvought  to  bear  upon  the  savages.  They  are  gradually  increas- 
ing in  numbers ;  and  if  we  delay,  the  party  will  be  wholly  cut  off." 

In  issuing  these  orders,  Colonel  de  Ilaldimar  evinced  a  composcdnes.s  that 
astonished  all  who  heaj'd  him.  JJut  although  his  voice  was  cahn,  derpair  was 
upon  his  brow.  Still  he  continued  to  gaze  fixedly  on  the  refreatin?;  form  of 
hLs  enemy,  until  he  finally  disappeared  behind  the  orchard  of  the  Canadian  of 
the  Fleur  do  Lis. 

Obeying  the  summons  from  the  fort,  the  troops  without  now  commenced 
their  retreat,  bearini;  olF  the  hollies  of  their  fillen  officers  an(i  several  of  their 
comrades  who  had  fallen  by  the  Indian  fire.  There  was  a  show  of  harassing 
them  on  their  return  ;  but  they  were  too  near  the  fort  to  apprehend  much 
danger.  Two  or  three  well-directed  discharges  of  artillery  ettectually  checked 
the  onward  progress  of  the  savages  ;  and,  in  the  course  of  a  minute,  they  had 
again  wholly  disappeared. 

In  gloomy  silence,  and  with  anger  and  disappointment  in  their  hearts,  the 
detachment  now  re-entered  the  fort.  Johnstone  was  only  severely  bruised  ; 
Sir  Evgrard  Valletoi-t  not  dead.  Both  were  conveyed  to  the  same  room, 
where  they  were  instantly  attended  by  the  surgeon,  who  pronounced  the  situ- 
ation of  the  latter  hopeless. 

Major  Blackwater,  Captains  Blessington  and  Erskine,  Lieutenants  Leslie 
and  Boyce.  and  Ensigns  Fortescue  and  Summers,  were  now  the  only  regi- 
mental officers  that  remained  of  thirteen  originally  comprising  the  strength  of 
the  garrison.  The  whole  of  these  stood  grouped  around  their  colonel,  who 
seemed  transfixed  to  the  spot  he  had  first  occupied  on  the  rampart,  with  his 
arms  folded,  and  his  gaze  bent  in  the  direction  in  which  he  had  lost  sight  of 
Wacousta  and  his  child. 

Hitherto  the  morning  had  been  cold  and  cheerless,  and  objects  in  the  far 
distance  were  but  indistinctly  seen  through  a  humid  atmosphere.  At  about 
half  an  hour  before  mid-day  the  air  became  more  rai-ified,  and,  the  murky 
clouds  graduallj-  disappearing,  left  the  blue  autumnal  sky  without  spot  or 
blemish.  Presently,  as  the  bells  of  the  fort  struck  twelve,  a  yell  of  a  legion 
of  devils  rent  the  a;r;  and,  riveting  their  gaze  in  that  direction,  all  beheld  the 
bridge,  hitherto  deserted,  suddenl}^  covered  with  a  multitude  of  savages, 
among  whom  were  several  individuals  attired  in  the  European  garb,  and  evi- 
dently prisoners.  Each  officer  had  a  telescope  raised  to  his  eye,  and  each 
prepared  himself,  shudderingly,  for  some  horrid  consummation.  Pre.sently 
the  bridge  was  cleared  of  all  but  a  double  line  of  what  appeared  to  be  women, 
armed  with  war-clubs  and  tomahawks.  Along  the  line  were  now  seen  to 
pass,  in  slow  succession,  the  prisoners  that  had  previously  been  observed. 
At  each  step  they  took  (and  it  was  evident  they  had  been  compelled  to  run 
the  gauntlet,)  a  blow  was  inflicted  by  some  one  or  other  of  the  line,  until  the 
wretched  victims  were  successively  despatched.  A  loud  yell  from  the  war- 
riors, who,  although  hidden  from  view  by  the  intervening  orchards,  were  evi- 
dently merely  spectators  in  the  bloody  drama,  announced  each  death.  These 
yells  were  repeated,  at  inftrvals,  to  about  the  number  of  thirty,  when,  sud- 
denly the  bridge  was  again  deserted  as  before. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  minute,  the  tall  figure  of  a  warrior  was  seen  to  ad- 
vance, holding  a  female  in  his  arms.  No  one  could  mistake,  even  at  that 
distance,  the  gigantic  proportions  of  Wacousta,  as  he  stood  in  the  extreme 
centre  of  the  bridge,  in  imposing  relief  against  the  flood  that  glittered  like  a 
sea  of  glass  beyond.  From  his  chest  there  now  burst  a  single  yell ;  but,  al- 
though audible,  it  was  fainter  than  any  remembered  ever  to  have  been  heard 
from  him  by  tbe  gairison,  11:^  then  advanced  to  the  extreme  edge  of  the 
bridge;  anci.  lia^Jini;,;  the  form  of  the  f.-male  far  above  his  head  with  fcis  left 
hand,  secmctl  to  wave  her  in  ven^-eful  triiunph.  A  second  wairior  vras  seen 
upon  the,  bridge.  ni:d  stealing  cai.itiously  to  the  .same  point.  The  right  hand 
of  tHoifa-st  warrior  v,';;.s  now  va;s'.d  .ond  brandished  iii  the  air;  in  the  next  in- 
stant i:/":I-  ■::':■!.'!.' !  ;r.pn  'iic  br:fi-;  rj  ;^o  Il?T;ia!:).  who  fl>n  fi-om  his  arms  into 


220  wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy. 

the  ravine  beneath.  Yells  of  triumph  from  the  Indians,  and  shouts  of  ex- 
ecration from  the  soldiers,  mingled  faintly  together.  At  that  moment  the 
arm  of  the  second  warrior  was  raised,  and  a  blade  was  seen  to  glitter  in  the 
sunshine.  His  arm  descended,  and  Wacousta  was  observed  to  stagger  for- 
ward and  fall  heavily  into  the  abyss  into  which  his  victim  had  the  instant 
before  been  precipitated.  Another  loud  yell,  but  of  disappointment  and  anger, 
was  heard  drowning  that  of  exultation  pealed  by  the  triumphant  warrior, 
who,  darting  to  the  open  extremity  of  the  bridge,  directed  his  flight  along  the 
margin  of  the  river,  where  a  light  canoe  was  ready  to  receive  him.  Into  this 
he  sprang,  and,  seizing  the  paddle,  sent  the  waters  foaming  from  its  sides ; 
and,  pursuing  his  way  across  tlie  river,  had  nearly  gained  the  shores  of  Canada 
before  a  bark  was  to  be  seen  following  in  pm-suit. 

How  felt — how  acted  Colonel  de  Haldimar  throughout  this  brief  but  terri- 
ble scene  ?  He  uttered  not  a  word.  With  his  arms  still  folded  across  his 
breast,  he  gazed  upon  the  murder  of  his  child  ;  but  he  heaved  not  a  groan,  he 
shed  not  a  tear.  A  momentary  triumph  seemed  to  irradiate  his  pallid  features, 
when  he  saw  the  blow  struck  that  annihilated  his  enemy ;  but  it  was  again 
instantly  shaded  by  an  expression  of  the  most  profound  despair. 

"  It  is  done,  gentlemen,"  he  at  length  remarked.  "  The  tragedy  is  closed, 
the  curse  of  Ellen  Halloway  is  fulfilled,  and  I  am — childless  ! — Blackwater," 
he  pursued,  endeavoring  to  stifle  the  emotion  produced  by  the  last  reflection, 
"  pay  every  attention  to  the  security  of  the  garrison,  see  that  the  drawbridge 
is  again  properly  chained  up,  and  direct  that  the  duties  of  the  troops  be  prose- 
cuted in  every  way  as  heretofore." 

Leaving  his  officers  to  wonder  at  and  pity  that  apathy  of  mind  that  could 
mingle  the  mere  forms  of  duty  with  the  most  heart-rendering  associations, 
Colonel  de  Haldimar  now  quitted  the  rampart ;  and,  with  a  head  that  was  re- 
marked for  the  first  time  to  droop  over  his  chest,  paced  his  way  musing  to  liis 
apartments. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

Night  had  long  since  drawn  her  circling  mantle  over  the  western  hemis- 
phere ;  and  deeper,  far  deeper  than  the  gloom  of  that  night  was  the  despair 
which  filled  every  bosom  of  the  devoted  garrison,  whose  fortunes  it  has  fallen 
to  our  lot  to  record.  A  silence,  profound  as  that  of  death,  pervaded  the  ram- 
parts and  exterior  defences  of  the  fortress,  interrupted  only,  at  long  intervals, 
by  the  customary  '■  All's  well !"  of  the  several  sentinels ;  which,  after  the 
awful  events  of  the  day.  seemed  to  many  who  now  heard  it  as  if  uttered  in 
mockery  of  their  hopelessness  of  sorrow.  The  lights  within  the  barracks  of 
the  men  had  long  since  extinguished ;  and,  consigned  to  a  mere  repose  of 
limb,  in  which  the  eye  and  heart  shared  not,  the  iaferior  soldiery  pressed  their 
rude  couches  with  spirits  worn  out  by  a  succession  of  painful  excitements,  and 
frames  debilitated  by  much  abstinence  and  watching.  It  was  an  hour  at  which 
sleep  was  wont  to  afford  them  the  blessing  of  a  temporary  forgetfulness  of  en- 
durances that  weighed  the  more  heavily  as  they  were  believed  to  be  endless 
and  without  fruit ;  but  sleep  had  now  apparently  been  banished  from  all ;  for 
the  low  and  confused  murmur  that  met  the  ear  from  the  several  block-houses 
was  continuous  and  general,  betraying  at  times,  and  in  a  louder  key,  words 
that  bore  reference  to  the  tragic  occurrences  of  the  day. 

The  only  lights  visible  in  the  fort  proceeded  from  the  guard-house  and  a 
room  adjoining  that  of  the  ill-fated  Charles  de  Haldimar,  Within  the  latter 
were  collected,  with  the  exception  of  the  governor,  and  grouped  around  a  bed 
on  which  lay  one  of  their  companions  in  a  nearly  expiring  state,  the  officers  of 
the  garrison,  reduced  nearly  one  third  iu  number  since  we  first  offered  them 


wacousta;    or,    the    prophecy.  231 

to  the  notice  of  our  renders.  The  dying  man  was  Sir  Everard  Valletort,  who, 
supported  by  pillows,  was  concluding  a  narrative  that  had  chained  the  earnest 
attention  of  his  auditor)',  even  amid  the  deep  and  heartfelt  sympathy  percep- 
tible in  each  for  the  forlorn  and  hopeless  condition  of  the  narrator.  At  the 
side  of  the  unhappy  baronet,  and  enveloped  in  a  dressing  gown,  as  if  recently 
out  of  bed,  sat.  reclining  in  a  rude  elbow  cliair,  one  whose  pallid  countenance 
denoted  that,  although  far  less  seriously  injured,  he,  too,  had  suffered  severe- 
ly : — it  was  Lieutenant  Johnstone. 

The  narrative  was  at  length  closed;  and  the  oflBcer,  exhausted  by  the 
efifort  he  had  made  in  his  anxiety  to  communicate  every  particular  to  his 
attentive  and  surprised  companions,  had  sunk  back  upon  his  pillow,  when, 
suddenly,  the  loud  and  unusual  *'  "Who  comes  there  ?"  of  the  sentinel 
stationed  on  the  rampart  above  the  gateway,  arrested  every  ear.  A  mo- 
ment of  pause  succeeded,  when  again  was  heard  the  "  Stand,  friend !"  evi- 
dently given  in  reply  to  the  fiamiliar  answer  to  the  original  challenge.  Then 
were  audible  rapid  movements  in  the  guard-liouse.  as  of  men  aroused  from 
temporary  slumber,  and  hastening  to  the  point  whence  the  voice  proceeded. 

Silently  yet  hurriedly  the  otYiccrs  now  quitted  the  bedside  of  the  dying  man, 
leaving  only  the  surgeon  and  the  invalid  Johnstone  behind  them  ;  and,  flj'ing 
to  the  rampart,  stood  in  the  next  minute  confounded  with  the  guard,  who 
were  already  grouped  round  the  challenging  sentinel,  bending  their  gaze  eagerly 
in  the  direction  of  the  road. 

"  What  now,  man  ? — whom  have  you  challenged  ?"  asked  Major  Blackwater. 

'•  It  is  I — De  Haldimar,"  hoarsely  exclaimed  one  of  four  dark  figures  that, 
hitherto  unnoticed  by  the  offitjers,  stood  immediately  beyond  the  ditch,  with 
a  burden  desposited  at  their  feet.  "  Quick,  Blackwater,  let  us  in  for  God's 
sake !  Each  succeeding  minute  may  bring  a  scouting  party  on  our  track. 
Lower  the  drawbridge  !" 

'•  Impossible  !"  exclaimed  the  major:  "after  all  that  has  passed,  it  is  more 
than  my  commission  is  worth  to  lower  the  bridge  without  permission.  Mr. 
Lawson,  quick  to  the  governor,  and  report  that  Captain  de  Haldimar  is  here : 
with  whom  shall  we  say  ?"  again  addressing  the  impatient  and  almost  indig- 
nant officer. 

"  With  Miss  de  Haldimar,  Francois  the  Canadian,  and  one  to  whom  we  all 
owe  our  lives,"  hurriedly  returned  the  officer ;  ''  and  you  may  add,"  he  con- 
tinued gloomily,  ''the  corpse  of  my  sister.  But  while  we  stand  in  parley  here, 
we  are  lost :  Lawson  fl}'  to  my  father,  and  tell  him  we  wait  for  entrance." 

With  nearly  the  speed  enjoined  the  adjutant  departed.  Scarcely  a  minute 
elapsed  when  he  again  stood  upon  the  rampart,  and  advancing  closely  to  the 
major,  whispered  a  few  words  in  his  ear. 

'•Good  God!  can  it  be  possible '?  When?  How  came  this?  but  we  vrill 
enquire  later.  Open  the  gate  ;  down  with  the  bridge,  Leslie,"  addressing  the 
officer  of  the  guard. 

The  command  was  instantly  obeyed.  The  officers  flew  to  receive  the  fugi- 
tives ;  and  as  the  latter  crossed  the  drawbridge,  the  light  of  a  lantern,  that  had 
been  brought  from  the  guard-room,  flashed  full  upon  the  harassed  counte- 
nances of  Captain  and  Miss  de  Haldimar,  Francois  the  Canadian,  and  the  de- 
voted Oucanasta. 

Silent  and  melancholy  was  the  gi-eeting  that  took  place  between  the  parties  : 
the  voice  spoke  not ;  the  hand  alone  was  eloquent ;  but  it  was  in  the  eloquence 
of  sorrow  onl_v  that  it  indulged.  Pleasure,  even  in  this  almost  despaired  of 
re-union,  could  not  be  expressed ;  and  even  the  eye  shrank  from  mutual  en- 
counter, as  if  its  very  glance  at  such  a  moment  were  sacrilege.  Recalled  to  a 
sense  of  her  situation  by  the  preparation  of  the  men  to  raise  the  bridge,  the 
Indian  woman  M-as  the  first  to  break  the  silence. 

"  The  Saganaw  is  .<;afe  within  liis  fort,  and  the  girl  of  the  pale  faces  will  lay 
her  head  upon  his  bosom,"  she  remarked  solemly.  "  Oucanasta  will  go  to  her 
solitary  wigwam  among  the  red  skins." 


222  w  A  c  o  u  s  T  A  ;    or,    the    prophecy. 

The  heart  of  Madeline  de  Haldimar  was  oppressed  by  the  Aveight  of  many 
griefri ;  yet  she  could  not  see  the  generous  preserver  of  her  life,  and  the  rescuer 
of  the  body  of  her  ill  fated  cousin  depart  without  emotion.  Drawing  a  ring 
of  some  value  and  great  beauty,  fi-oni  her  finger,  which  she  had  more  than 
once  observed  the  Indian  to  admire,  she  placed  it  on  her  hand ;  and  then 
throwing  herself  on  the  bosom  of  the  faithful  creature,  embraced  her  with 
deep  manifestations  of  affection,  but  without  uttering  a  word. 

Oucanasta  was  .'^cnsibly  gratified  :  she  raised  her  large  e3^es  to  heaven  as  if 
in  thankfulness  ;  and  by  the  light  of  the  lantern,  which  fell  upon  her  dark 
but  expressive  countenance,  tears  were  to  be  seen  starting  unbidden  from  their 
source. 

Releiised  from  the  embrace  of  her  whose  life  she  had  twice  preserved  at 
imminent  pei'il  to  her  own,  the  Indian  again  prepared  to  depart ;  but  there 
was  another,  v.'ho,  like  Madeline,  although  stricken  by  many  sorrows,  could 
not  forego  the  testimony  of  his  heart's  gratitude.  Captain  de  Haldimar,  who 
during  this  short  scene  had  despatched  a  messenger  to  his  room  for  the  pur- 
pose, "now  advanced  to  the  poor  girl,  bearing  a  short  but  elegantly  mounted 
daggei-,  which  he  begged  her  to  deliver  as  a  token  of  friendship  to  the  young 
chief  h:i-  hrotiicr.  lie  then  dropped  on  one  knee  at  her  feet,  and  raising  her 
ham!,  '.uxs-cd  it  fjr\ontly  against  his  heart;  an  action  which,  even  to  the  un- 
tutored mind  of  the  Indian,  bore  evidence  only  of  the  feeling  that  pi-ompted 
it.  A  heavy  sigh  escaped  her  laboring  chest ;  and  as  the  officer  now  rose  and 
quitted  her  hand,  she  turned  slowly  and  with  dignity  from  him,  and  crossing 
the  drawbridge,  was  in  a  few  minutes  lost  in  the  surrounding  gloom. 

Our  readers  have  doubtUss  anticipated  the  communication  made  to  Major 
Blackwater  by  Uie  Adjutant,  Lawson.  Bowed  down  to  the  dust  Ijy  the  ac- 
complishment of  the  curse  of  Ellen  Halloway,  the  inflexibility  of  Colonel  de 
Haldimar's  pride  was  not  proof  against  the  utter  annihilation  wrought  to  liis 
hopes  as  a  father  by  the  unrelenting  hatred  of  the  enemy  his  early  falsehood 
and  treachery  had  raised  up  to  him.  When  the  adjutant  entered  his  apart- 
ment, the  stony  coldness  of  his  cheek  attested  he  had  been  dead  for  some 
hours. 

We  pass  over  the  few  days  of  bitter  trial  that  succeeded  to  the  restoration 
of  Captain  de  Haldimar  and  his  bride  to  their  friends  ;  days  during  which  were 
consigned  to  the  same  grave  the  bodies  of  the  governor,  his  lamented  children, 
and  tlie  scarcely  less  regretted  Sir  Evei'ard  Valletort.  The  funeral  service  was 
attempted  by  Captain  Elessingtou  ;  but  the  strong  atlection  of  that  excellent 
officer,  for  three  of  the  defunct  parties  at  least,  was  not  armed  against  the 
trial.  He  had  undertaken  a  task  far  beyond  his  strength ;  and  scarcely  had 
commenced,  ere  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  the  performance  of  the  ritual 
to  the  adjutant.  A  large  grave  had  been  dug  close  under  the  rampart,  and 
neai'  the  fatal  flag-staff"  to  receive  the  bodies  of  their  deceased  friends ;  and, 
as  thejr  were  lowered  successively  into  their  last  earthly  resting  place,  tears 
fell  unrestrainedly  over  the  bronzed  cheeks  of  the  oldest  soldiers,  while  many 
a  female  sob  blended  with  and  gave  touching  solemnity  to  the  scene. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  from  this  quadruple  interment,  notice  was 
given  by  one  of  the  sentinels  that  an  Indian  was.approaching  the  fort,  making 
signs  as  if  in  demand  for  a  parley.  The  officers,  headed  by  Major  Bhickwater, 
now  become  the  commandant  of  the  place,  inmiediately  ascended  the  rampart, 
when  the  stranger  was  at  once  recognized  by  Captain  de  Haldimar  for  the 
young  Ottawa,  the  preserver  of  his  life,  and  the  avenger  of  the  deaths  of 
those  they  mourned,  in  whose  girdle  was  thrust,  in  seeming  pride,  the  richly 
mounted  dagger  that  officer  had  caused  to  be  conveyed  to  him  through  his 
uo  less  generous  sister.  A  long  conference  ensued,  in  the  language  of  the 
Ottawas,  between  the  parties  just  named,  the  purport  of  wliich  was  of  high 
moment  to  the  garrison,  now  nearly  reduced  to  the  last  extremity.  The 
^'oung  chief  had  come  to  apprise  them,  that,  won  by  the  noble  conduct  of  the 

Inglish,  on  a  late  occasion,  when  his  warriors  were  wholly  m  their  power. 


£ 


wacousta;  or,  the  prophecy.      223 

Ponteac  had  expressed  a  generous  determination  to  conclude  a  peace  with  the 
garrison,  and  henceforth  to  consider  them  as  his  friends.  This  he  had  publicly- 
declared  in  a  large  council  of  the  chiefs,  h.eld  the  preceding  night ;  and  the 
motive  of  the  Ottawa's  coming  was  to  assure  the  English,  that,  on  this  occa- 
sion, their  great  leader  was  perfectly  sincere  in  a  resolution,  at  which  he  had 
the  more  readily  arrived,  now  that  his  terrible  coadjutor  and  vindictive  adviser 
was  no  more.  lie  prepared  them  for  the  coming  of  Ponteac  and  the  principal 
chiefs  of  the  league  to  demand  a  council  on  the  morrow ;  and,  with  this  final 
communication,  again  withdrew. 

The  Ottawa  was  right.  Within  a  week  from  that  period  the  English  were 
to  be  seen  once  more  issuing  from  their  fort ;  and,  although  many  months 
elapsed  before  the  wounds  of  their  suffering  hearts  were  healed,  still  were 
they  grateful  to  Providence  for  their  final  preservation  from  a  doom  that  had 
fallen,  without  exception,  on  every  fortress  on  the  line  of  frontier  in  which 
they  lay. 

time  rolled  on  ;  and,  in  the  course  of  years,  Oucanasta  might  be  seen  asso- 
ciating with  and  bearing  curious  presents,  the  fruits  of  Indian  ingenuity,  to 

the  daughters  of  De  Haldimar,  now  become  the  colonel  of  the regiment ; 

while  her  brother,  the  chief,  instructed  his  sons  in  the  athletic  and  active  exer- 
cises peculiar  to  his  race.  As  for  poor  Ellen  Halloway,  search  had  been  made 
for  her,  but  she  never  was  heard  of  afterwards. 


\ 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

RENEWALS  ONLY— TEL.  NO.  642-3405 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


JMN    7  w7u  0  4 

KEC'D  LD  m 

3    7Q-2PM8a 

JUL  2  8 1972  6"^ 

C                                  .       V  .iJ      ..     i'\ 

3    EJHU£  jti  4Tit -U  RR  ^  » 

AUrO  DISC. ' 

NOV  u  6  wy?: 

CIRCULATION 

DEC  14 1992 

;      ■■\j:  /.-■:•.  (■   .     ..:_:, 

0~~ 

.StfoT.-S.         ™S^H^'»" 

CD31017'1bb 


M116080 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  UBRARY 


